'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎27] (346/1024)

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Book I. Trpvels in India.
and at Agra they make others for Surm^ the whole at the fame price as I have
fet down.
From Golconda^ from four to five.
And for Goa the fame.
From at three. ' -
From Vi favour at three.
From Ddtabat, from one to one and an half.
Some years the Exchange rifes from one to two fer Cent, by reafon of certain
Raja’s or petty VafTal Princes that dilturb Trade, every one pretending that the
Mechandizes ought to pafs through his Countrey, and pay Toll. There are two
particularly between Agra and Amadabatt, the one called the Raja King of Antivar^
and the other the of Bergam^ who very much mol eft the Merchants for
this very caufe. But you may avoid paffing through the Territories of thefe Prin
ces, taking another road from Agra to Saratt, thorough Seronge and Brampur.
But they are fertil Lands, divided with feveral Rivers, without Bridges or Boats,
and it is impoflible to go that way, till two Months after the rains are fallen.
Which is the reafon that thofe Merchants who mult be at Suratt when thefeafon
permits them to take the Sea, are forc’d to pafs through the Territories of thefe
two Raja King !s, becaufe they can pafs that way at all times, even in the time that the
rains fall, which only knit and harden the Sand.
Nor are you to wonder that the Exchange runs fo high} for they that trull out
their Money, run the hazard, by obligation, of loling their Money, if the Mer
chants Ihould be robb’d. ,
When you come to Shy an to Embarque, there is Money enough. For it is the
greateft Trade of the Grandees of the Indies to venture their Money by Sea
from thence for Qrmm, Balfara^ and Moccd j nay even as far as Bantam^ Acben^
and the Philippine Iflands. For Mecca and B Afar a, the change runs from 22 to
24.per Cent. And to Ornws^ from \6 to 20. And to the other places which I have
nam ed, the change runs proportionable to the diltance.
I have but one word to fay of their Weights and Meafures *, I have given you
in the Margin the fifth part of an Ell of Agra, and the fourth part of an Ell of
Amadabat and Suratt. As for their Weights, the Men is generally 69 Pound,and
the Pound 1 < 5 Ounces. But the Men which they weigh their Indigo withal, is
but 53 Pound. At Suratt xkvp talk of a Serre, which is one and three fourths of
a Pound, and the Pound is 16 Ounces.
CHAP. HI.
Of'l eir Carriages^ and the manner of Travelling in India,
B Efore you fet forward upon the road, it will be convenient tofpeak of their
Carriages and manner of travelling in India , which, in my opinion, is
more commodious than,any thing that has been invented for eafe in France or
Italy. Quite otherwife it is in Per fa, where they neither make ufe of Afles,
Mules, or Horfes, but tranfport all their Wares to the Indies upon Oxen, or in
Wains, their Countries being fo near to one another. If any Merchant carries an
Horfe out of Perfia, ’tis only for Ihewi, or to walk in his hand, or to fell to fbme
Indian Prince. ■ ~ , ,
They will lay upon an Oxes back 300,0? 350 pound weight,and it is no won
derful thing to fee ten .or twelve thoufand Oxen at a time all laden with Rice,
Corn and Salt, in fuch places where they exchange thofe Commodities: Carrying
Corn where only Rice grows, Rice where only Corn grows, and Salt where there
is none an all They make ufe of Camels fometimes, but very rarely, they being
particularly appointed to carry the luggage of great Perfonages. When the fea-
lon requires hall, and that they would fpeedily conveigh their Merchandize to
buratt to (hip them off, they load them upon Oxen, and not in Wains. And in re
gard that the Territories of the Great Mogul are very well manur’d, the Fields
* E z • are: