________________
NOVEMBER, 1021)
THE SCATTERGOODS AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
MOOREES : Moors-cloths. Cloths primarily for Muhammadan or "Moor” wear.
Blue and white cotton cloth, principally manufactured in the Nellore district of Madras for sale to the Muhammadans (Moors) of the Malay Peninsula. They were identical with Salempores, for which see below.
The earliest quotation for "moory” in the Oxford Eng. Dict. is 1696 and the derivation given is possibly from Port. morim, shirting." But it is more likely that morim is a corruption of muri than that muri is a corruption of morim, as it was & common custom of the Portuguese in adopting Oriental terms ending in i to add a final mor n. Like "Baftas", "Moories" are now manufactured in England for sale to Africa.
"Moorees" are mentioned in the Company's records from 1665 onwards. In 1618 the factors at Masulipatam wrote to the Company that white mcryes" were procurable in their neighbourhood. Foster, Eng. Fact. 1618-1621, p. 42. In 1675 the Company sent a list of goods to be provided " at the Fort and Metchlepatam Masulipatam) for Anno 1677." The list included " 6000 ordinary Morees, 5000 fine Morees, 1000 Superfine Morees." As stated above, "Moorees " appear to have been identical with “ Salempores" as regards texture, but in colour they were
confined to blue and white, NICCANNEES. The origin of this term is obscure. The goods indicated appear to have
been fine striped calicoes manufactured in Gujarât, especially at Surat and
Bharoch. See Foster Eng. Fact., 1618-1621, pp. 51 n., 235 ; 1651-1654, pp. 42, 235. PER COLLAES (Percallas, Perculleas, Porcellaes) were white and red cotton cloths
(probably also of other colours) of the same nature as "Salempores" (see below), made in the neighbourhood of Masulipatam. In th: Diaries of Streynsham Master, ed. Temple, I. 272 and elsewhere in the vols.), it is assumed (on the authori y of Mr. Crooke in his ed. of Yule's Hobson-Jobson, 8.v. Piece-Goods) that they wer spangled cloths (Pers. par kala & sparkling object, a spangle), but I doubt this derivation now, and feel tempted to refer the term to some place of manufacture near Masulipatam and Pettipolee (Peddapalle or Nizâmpatam), such as the well-known village in the 17th century) of Peddakalle or Peddagolla near Madapollam, in the same neighbourhood.
In 1618 the manufacture of "white percallaes " at Masulipatam is mentioned, and in 1621 "Red percallaes " formed part of the cargo of the Globe. Foster, Eng. Fact., 1618-1621, pp. 42, 266. That "Percollaes " was a manufacture of South India is evident from the Company's letter of 14th December 1655, where they urge their factors to "take into your consideration what Calliooes you are able to acquire either at Fort St. George, Mesulapatam, Verasheroone or elsewhere in........Parcallaes." Letter Book, Vol. I. And in 1669 the factors at Fort St. George wrote to Masulipatam, "We shall be able to invest all our Stocke........ in........Percalls. ....." Factory Records, Fort St. George (India Office Records), XVI. 130.
In 1676 Streynsham Master agreed with the native merchants at Masulipatam to deliver 4000 " peices fine percollaes of 15 covads (cubit, 18 inches) long, 2} broad, at pagodas per peice," and in 1679 he made a similar agreement with the
merchants at Madapollam. Diaries of Streynsham Master, ed. Temple, I. 273 ; II. 167. PINTADO QUILTS. Chintz bedspreads, counterpan es. Port. pintado, painted. Cotton
material, printed or hand-painted in colours. Pintado quilts appear to have been varieties of the celebrated Palempores of Masulipatam and its neighbourhood,
