Question

This is how Abu’l Fazl describes the transactions between the hill tribes and the plains in the suba of Awadh (part of present-day Uttar Pradesh): From the northern mountains quantities of goods are carried on the backs of men, of stout ponies and of goats, such as gold, copper, lead, musk, tails of the kutas cow (the yak), honey, chuk (an acid composed of orange juice and lemon boiled together), pomegranate seed, ginger, long pepper, majith (a plant producing a red dye) root, borax, zedoary (a root resembling turmeric), wax, woollen stuffs, wooden ware, hawks, falcons, black falcons, merlins (a kind of bird), and other articles. In exchange they carry back white and coloured cloths, amber, salt, asafoetida, ornaments, glass and earthen ware.

What are the modes of transport described in this passage? Why do you think they were used? Explain what each of the articles brought from the plains to the hills may have been used for.

Answer 1

1. Goods were transported on the backs of men, ponies, goats and yaks.
2. These modes of transport were used because the hilly areas had steep, difficult paths where carts and other vehicles could not move easily.
3. The hill people carried products such as gold, copper, lead, musk, honey, ginger, pepper, wax, woollen goods and herbs to the plains.
4. In return, they brought white and coloured cloth, amber, salt, asafoetida, ornaments, glassware and earthenware from the plains.
5. Cloth was mainly used for making clothes and other household items.
6. Salt and asafoetida were used in cooking and food preparation.
7. Ornaments and amber were used for decoration and personal use.
8. Glassware and earthenware were used for storing, serving and carrying food, water and other household materials.

Thus, trade between the hills and the plains helped both regions obtain goods that were not easily available locally.