1 49
2 CHAPTER VI.
3 COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES OF THE PUNJAUB,
4 The commerce of the Punjaub is extensive or
5 otherwise, according to the political condition of
6 the country for the time being. During the
7 latter years of the rule of Runjeet Singh, the
8 tranquillity which prevailed stimulated traffic,
9 and a considerable commercial intercourse be-
10 tween the Punjaub, British India, and Affghan-
11 istan was the result. Since the demise of the
12 Old Lion, however, trade has declined, owing to
13 the 'distracted and insecure state of the country ;
14 the robberies upon the high road, vexatious exac-
15 tions in the shape of duties and tolls, interrup-
16 tions to manufactures, the absorption of capital
17 in military armaments and civil contests, the
18 withdrawal of large monetary resources from cir-
19 culation and their removal to places of security,
20 have all had their effect in checking and cramp-
21 ing mercantile operations. In ordinary and
22 D