Buchanan, Francis: A Journey from Madras through the countries of Mysore, Canara and Malabar ... (Band 3) (London, 1807)

CHAPTER
XVII.

March 15.
Imports.

Betel-nut.

Cardamoms.

Pepper.

Strata of

Jaydi

Munnu.

A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH

cardamoms sell for 7 Pagodas the Maund of 40 Seers; so that a
pound costs almost Qs. Ad.

The Marattah merchants bring almost the whole cloth, and a
great part of the grain, that is used in the country. Some they
exchange with the cultivators; but the greater part is sold for
ready money to shopkeepers, who again retail these articles to the
people of the country. The iron used in the neighbourhood comes
from Chandra-gupty, and other places in the dominions of Mysore.
Their salt comes from Canara, and a vast quantity passes this way
to the Marattah territory.

The Marattah merchants, who are just noAV here, say, that the
Betel-nut of this place is greatly inferior to that of Sira, and the
neighbouring countries; which is in direct opposition to the infor-
mation of the people of Bangalore. The taste of the people in the
two countries may be different; as, for instance, the female Betel-
leaf is here preferred, while in some other countries the male is in
greater request. There, is no reason to doubt the accuracy of the
price current given me at Bangalore. The Marattah merchants say5
that they purchase all that they can get at Sira; but, that being
totally inadequate to supply the demand, they must take whatever
they can get. They say, that none grows in the Marattah territo-
ries, and from hence it is carried to the most remote parts of their
dominion.

The cardamoms that grow here are of an inferior quality to what
they get at Sringa-giri, that is, to the produce of Coorg.

The garden pepper of Soonda and oiNagara is of equal value, and
is better than that which grows spontaneously, by three Pagodas a
Candy, that is, in the proportion of ten to nine. They say also, that
merchants and commerce meet with every protection and encou-
ragement in the Marattah dominions. Indeed, among the Hindus,
even in the most rapacious governments, this class of people is
seldom molested.

In low moist vallies here, a kind of white clay, mixed with small