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BANKING TRADE AND COMMERCE
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IMPORTS
"Of imports the chief articles are salt, metals, coconuts, dates, groceries, oil, hardware, indigo, machinery, twist, and piece-goods. Salt was formerly brought almost entirely by pack bullocks from Surat. Some small quantity still reaches the western district the same way, but almost the whole supply comes from Bombay by rail. Under metals come gold, silver, copper, brass, and iron. During the time of the American War Of Independence very large quantities of gold and silver found their way into the district. Most of the bullion was converted into ornaments and the rest was hoarded. During the scarcity of 1876-77 a large amount of gold and silver in bullion and in ornaments left the district chiefly for Bombay. During the last two seasons better harvests have started anew, though on not a very large scale, the import of silver and gold. Copper and brass were formerly imported in blocks and worked first into sheets and then into utensils. Of late ready made sheets have been largely imported from Bombay, and have considerably lowered the price of brass-ware. Ready made pots and drinking mugs are also brought from Nasik. But these are used by the well-to-do people only. The import of iron has of late increased. It is much needed for cart wheels
and axles, and in the manufacture of buckets and other agricultural implements. All of it comes from Bombay. Coconuts are brought in large quantities by rail from Bombay, and are distributed over the district. Dates and groceries are brought in small quantities by rail from Bombay. Some of the western parts of the district still draw their supply of groceries from Surat by pack bullocks. Hardware articles, iron buckets, water pots and frying-pans are brought by rail from Bombay. Twist, both English and Indian, is brought by rail, and distributed over the district to be woven in
handlooms...... Piece-goods are of two chief kinds, hand-made
and steam-made. The hand-made goods are turbans and women's wear and are brought from Burhanpur, Yeola, Ahmednagar, Surat, Ahmedabad, and Nagpur, and waistcloths from Malegaon, Yeola, and Nagpur. Silk waistcloths, robes and turbans are brought from Burhanpur, Yeola, Surat, and Ahmedabad. The machine-made piece-goods are coarse strong cloth, chiefly for waistcloths, sheets, and towels from Bombay; and finer fabrics and prints from England." [Gazetteer of Bombay Presidency, Vol. XII, 1880. ]
"There is no demand in Khandesh for steam-made European silks. Hand-made silks, chiefly turbans, scarfs and bodices from Burhanpur and) Yeola, and brocades from Surat and Ahmedabad, are brought into the district sometimes by travelling pedlars loaded on bullocks or in carts, and partly by rail No class of merchants deals exclusively in silks, but almost all rich merchants keep them in stock." [Ibid. ]
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