rade between the hill tribes and the plains, c. 1595

This is how Abul 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 earthem ware.

Questions:

(i)    How were the goods transported from the hills to the plains?

(ii)    Name the items they sold and the items the hill people bought from plains to take back.

(iii)    Mention the cultural influences that penetrated into the forest areas.

(iv)    Why did the Mughal state intrude into the forest areas? Explain.

(i)    From the northern mountains quantities of goods were carried on the backs of men, of stout ponies and of goats.

(ii)    (a) The sold items were gold, copper, lead, musk, tails of kutas cow (the yak), honey, chuk (an acid composed of orange juice and lemon boiled together), pomegranate seed, ginger and other articles.

(b) The hill people brought from plains the following items to take back (i) white and coloured cloths, (ii) amber,

(iii) salt, (iv) asafoetida, (v) ornaments,

(vi) glass and (vii) earthem ware.

(iii) The people of the forest areas had exchange knowledge with the people of the plains. They came to know several items and they provided knowledge of several types of forest produce to the people of plains.

The people of the both areas learnt new dialects and languages. The people of forest areas got knowledge about the style and ways of living of the cities and plains. They got knowledge about new diets, food items and use of different implements and tools.

(iv) The Mughal state intrude into forest areas for the following things :

(a)    The state wanted to extent its influence in these areas.

(b)    The items produced or collected from the forest areas were very useful. These items could be used for coins (such as gold, copper and lead), some produce or items could be used in Mughal royal households, for internal as well external trade.

(c)    The Mughal emperors and their princes were fond of hunting, fishing and touring the forests.