Coin Trading, Import in British Garhwal

 British Administration in Garhwal   -206

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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -226

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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -1059

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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

        In Garhwal kingdom, there was custom of people taking their copper to Government press and get the desired government stamped copper coins by paying revenue tax. The Mughal and other coins were also in uses in Garhwal even at Gorkhali period.  In British period, old currency was in no use but there was no ban on selling of Garhwali, Mughal or other coins. There was demand for old Garhwal coins in plains. Trail wrote that Garhwalis used to export old, ugly coins to the plain traders.

     Initially, the value of British rupee was 176 Garhwali paise. Later on, the value increased. there was 80 paise value of Garhwali paise against a British rupee. Later on the value became eual to British paise. The plains people used those coins for repairing copper or other vessels.

                         Items of Import

       Trail offered details of items being imported in Garhwal-

      People imported British cotton dress and cloths, other cloths, silk, cotton, cotton thread, tobacco flakes, usable tobacco, gur, sugar, andrakhi, salt, wine, net, coconut, spices as black pepper, cloves, dry fruits, soap, indigo, color, aluminum items, Sulphur, various metals and metallic items, chemicals, resins, copper sheets, toys, jewelry, gems, mirror, glass and glass items, tin, plumbs, gun powders,  guns, gun bullets, costly stones,, ink, paper, books and initially, newspapers or books were printed in Mumbai or other places.

References  

1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page- 343-456

2- Atkinson, Himalayan Districts Vol.2,

2 A- Trail Sketch of Kumaon , Asiatic Researches

3-Pau, Garhwal settlement

4- Becket, Garhwal Settlement Report