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BANKING TRADE AND COMMERCE
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IMPORTS
By the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th, the
articles chiefly imported in Kolaba were beams, planks of Malabar teak, mortar, paints, nails, screws and hinges among building materials; glass, porcelain, copper, brass, pots, dried fruits, coconuts, betel-nuts, wheat, gram, chillies, spices, oils, ayurvedic and yunani medicines, wines-both indigenous and foreign- among foods and drinks. Cutlery and toilet articles were also imported in small quantities. Among clothings fine fabrics, silk and woollen cloth were primarily imported from Great Britain
by the importers at Bombay who used to sell to the merchants in this district, while the medium varieties of dhotis, saris, lugadis, khans, turbans, shirtings, coatings, were imported from Bombay. Sholapur, Malegaon, Madras and Bangalore. Banarasi shaloos, paithanis and khans were brought by the few rich only. Canvas and linen were not used to any considerable extent. The sails of country vessels were generally brought from Bombay. Umbrellas were imported from Bombay, while ghongadis were prepared locally. Professional turban-folders were found about 50 years ago in all the large towns. Shoes mostly made by shoemakers in the Deccan were imported in the district.
The structure of imports underwent some changes since the late thirties. This was in keeping with the changes in income, population, habits, means of transport and living standards of the people. Consequent upon the increase in building activity and popularity of R. C. C. works, building materials are brought from outside in larger quantities and in numerous varieties, The iron beams, screws, nails, iron bars and cement are mainly imported from Bombay. With changes in food habits, more quantities of wheat, jowar, and pulses are brought from Bombay, Poona, Satara, Karad, Lonand and Wai. Chillies are purchased from Karad, Koregaon, Phaltan and Wai and coriander from Koregaon and Wai. Particularly, during the World War II and thereafter. when rationing of food was introduced the food habits of the
people underwent some changes, so that jowar and wheat have also become common foodgrains of popular consumption. Drugs and medicines are imported from Bombay. The poor peasantry used mainly ayurvedic medicines manufactured at Panvel and matras and herbal medicines (jadi butt). Import and manufacture of wines and other intoxicating liquors have been stopped since the introduction of prohibition in the State. With the spread of education there has been an increase in the import of stationery goods. Cutlery and toilet articles are mainly brought from Bombay. Consumption of these articles is more in the towns like Mahad, Panvel, Pen, Karjat and Alibag than in the rural area.
Mention may be made of the commercial activities at Matheran Hill Station. Almost every article of human consumption is imported at Matheran at the time of the 'season'. The shopkeepers, hotel-keepers, vendors, hawkers, and petty traders bring their stock-in-trade from Bombay and Kalyan via Neral.
As there is a regular service of Local trains between Bombay and 'Karjat, a number of persons go daily to Bombay and make many purchases there. Such purchases consist mainly of cloth, ready-made clothes, stationery, cutlery and crockery articles, drugs and medical appliances, metal utensils, watches, electrical appliances, fine qualities of footwear, etc. These purchases are, however, restricted to personal or domestic requirements and, therefore, not in considerable quantities.
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