The Indian Antiquary - A Journal Of Oriental Research Vol Iv - 1925

x T vi, I INDIAN ANTIQU A JOURNAL OF ORIENTAL RESEARCH VOLUME LIV-1925 THE REVENUES OF BOMBAY. An Early Statement. Bv S. M. EDWARDES, C. S. I., C. V. O. A few mouths ago W. William Foster, C. LE., of the India Office, sent me a transcript of an official statement of the Revenues of Bombay, at the time of its transfer to the East India Company in September, 1668. The statement was originally forwarded to Surat with a letter of October 6th, 1668, and was entered in the Surat register of letters received now India Office Factory Records, Surat, Vol. 105, pp. 23, 24. In sending me the transcript, Mr. Foster suggested that as he had other problems to deal with, arising out of his researches into the Companys early records, I might work the statement into an article for the Indian Antiquary. He had himself made a cursory examination of the statement and added a few short notes on some of the doubtful items appearing in it, and these he has permitted me to use. He also advised mo that, in his opinion, the scribe who copied the original account into the Surat register had made various errors, both in the headings and the figures Some of these mistakes are obvious, and help to justify the view that, where the calculations do not work out correctly, he has miscopied or omitted figures. A few weeks after I had received the statement from him, Mr. Foster informed me that he had discovered a duplicate copy of it in the India Office records Factory Records, MiseelL, Vol. 2, pp. 44, 45. In the latter, some of the words are spelt a little differently from the corresponding words in the original statement, and to these differences I have drawn attention in my notes. Subject to these remarks, I givehereunder the statement in full, with such explanations as appear to me obvious or plausible. In one or two instances I am unable to solve the puzzles presented by the document, the unknown words used probably being indiffer ent Portuguese corruptions of vernacular terms, to which I have failed to obtain a clue. Perhaps some reader of the Indian Antiquary may be able to supplement my efforts in these doubtful cases. Yearely Savastall 1 or Rent Bowie of Bombaim and Jurisdiction. Battee 2 muraes 3 82.1 10 adolains 4 at X, 6 14 per mora amount to .. .. .. X. 1,189. 257 Bandarins tribute which they pay .... X. 652. 2,30 Colouria, or fishermens tribute, comes to X. 3,718. 0.65 Ooconutts 487,000 at Xs . 18 per mille amounts unto X . 8,406 .0 .0 An orta called Chenxey 9 . . . ., . . X. 400 . p. O X. 8,806.00.00 The hill Vaulquessm 10, net rents ., , X 4 39,01 .03 THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY JANUARY, 1925 Fores 1, or out rent, was formerly X. 1,235, but since there was severall crowns lands found out, etc. There is X. 332 2.14 reys deducted rest . . X 902 .00,66 Kent of severall warehouses increasing yearely .. X, 66,00,00 Summe is X. 16,374.01,61 Stanck 12 of tobacco imports X. 10,225.00.00 Customes received in Sir Gervas Lucas time of government the summe of X. 5,435.0.56 And in the time of Capt. Gary, . X. 18,920. 0.19 X. 24,355. 0.75 beingfrom tie 18th February 1667 to the 23rd Sep tember 1668, the commissioners that received and collected them being satisfyed, soe that the yearely customes earae to about ...... X, 18,000,00.00 Rents of the tavernes imports ...... x . 2,450 .00,00 -----------..... .. x 30,675.00,00 Maaagfl, vizi. Colouria, or fishermens tribute diversly paid in .. X. 4,198. 1,26Palmeiras bravas 936 rents ...... x. 1,182 75 Palmeiras mancas 165 rents ...... x . 0, l45 2 42 Hand of Pattecas, 4 .. .. .. .. x . lI. o. OO Battee, 225 muraes at Xs, 14J per mura . ., . x 3 262 40 Vinzorai, 60 fata. ........ x, 24,000 mangasis at 15 fedeas per mille . . x 18 2 87 Rent of the botica 8,838,0.48 Summa totalia, 54,887. There is besides a custome of Henry Bue o, Yaarely Savastall or Rent Roule of Mahlm and Its JarMlctioa, out the 31th July 166a, ... X. 2J. S. 40 1925 THE REVENUES OF BOMBAY Two tobacco shopps, X...