HistoryMedieval India: Peasants, Zamindars and the State

In Abu'l Fazl's account of trade between the hill tribes and the plai…

In Abu'l Fazl's account of trade between the hill tribes and the plains of Awadh, three of the following were carried down from the northern mountains. Which one was carried back?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → Amber

Option (1) Amber — Correct. Amber went the other way. The hill people took it back from the plains, with cloths, salt, asafoetida, ornaments, glass and earthen ware, in exchange for their own goods.

Option (2) Borax — Incorrect. Borax was also brought down from the hills, along with gold, copper, lead and honey.

Option (3) Musk — Incorrect. Musk was one of the goods carried down from the northern mountains on the backs of men, ponies and goats.

Option (4) Long pepper — Incorrect. Long pepper was a hill product. It came down to the plains with ginger and pomegranate seed.

NCERT (2026-27): “4.2 Inroads into forests …
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.”