Indian Antiquary Vol 56

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 229

NOVEMBER, 1927)
JEAN DE THEVEXOT'S ACCOUNT OF SURAT
201
During the rains the workmen can spread oil-cloths over the masonry, but in the dry seasong there is no remedy: all that one can do, is to soak cloths and to cover over the work piece by piece as soon as it is done ; but the cloths dry so quickly that there is no great advantage in it. The streets of Surat are wide and level, but they are not paved at all, and though the aren of the city is large, there is not a single public edifice.
The Christians and Muhammadans of Surat usually cat the meat of the cow, firstly be. cause in this district it is better than that of the ox, and secondly because the bullocks are used for ploughing the earth and transporting all the loads. The mutton eaten there, is tolerably good ; but besides this, hens, chickens, pigeons, pork, and game of all kinds are available. The oil of the Cnicus silvestris, or cartame, is used for cating; it is the best oil in India, and that of the sesame, which is also common there, is not so good.
Grapes are eaten in Surat from the beginning of February until the end of April, but their taste is not very fine. Some think that this is because the grapes are not left sufficiently long to ripen : however, the Dutch, who leave them on the vine-stock as long as practicable, make from these grapes a wine which is so sour that it is impossible to drink it without adding sugar. These grapes, which are white, are large and fine in appearance, and are brought to Surat from a small town called Naapura, in the province of Balaghat, a four days' journey from Surat.
The local country liquor is scarcely better than the wine. That which is usually drunk is made from jagres or black sugar, which is put into water with the bark of the Babul tree to give it some strength, and then both are distilled together. Toddy liquor is also prepared, and this is distilled; but these kinds of liquor are not as good as ours, neither is that which they make from rice, sugar and dates. The vinegar which is used is also made from jagre and water. Some people put in spoiled grapes, when they have any ; but to improve it, toddy is mixed with it, and it is then left in the sun for several days.
THEVENOT'S TRAVELS.
CHAPTER X.
The Oficials in Surat. There are in Surat a muftir who is in charge of everything concerning the Muslim religion, and a kadi established for legal matters, to whom people have recourse in case of disputes. The Great-Mogul also maintains another high official there, whom the French call Secretary of State, and whose function resembles that of our provincial intendants. He is called VakaNevis,& i.e., he who writes down and keeps a record of everything which takes place in the territory in which he is appointed. The king keeps one of these officials in each government, in order to keep him informed of all that happens, and the official is not dependent on any man in the State except on His Majesty himself.
There are two Governors or Nabado in Surat, who are in no wise dependent on each other, and who are responsible for their actions to the king alone. The one is in charge of the castle, and the other of the city; and they do not in any way infringe upon each other's rights or duties. The Governor of the city judges the civil court cases, and usually settles them speedily: if a man asks another man for money in payment of a debt, he must either show a bond, or produce two witnesses, or else he must take an oath: if it is a Christian, he swears on the Bible; if it is a Muslim, he swears on the Koran, and a Hindu swears by the cow : the oath of the Hindu merely consists of placing his hand on the cow, and saying that he is willing to eat the flesh of this animal, if what he says is not true; but most of them would rather lose their case than swear, because a man who swears is considered as infamous among the idolators. 3 Navapur.
The country above the Ghaute. 6 Jagri, molasses,
The juice of the tadi palm. 1 An expounder of the Law (fata). His decrees are executed by the Kazi. 8 Vaq'ia navle, now writer or intelligencer.
Navdb, a Viceroy's delegate.