Posted on: 5 April 2010

The opium godown or store within its compound at Patna - 1814.
Watercolour of an Opium Godown in Patna from 'Views by Seeta Ram from Patna to Benares Vol. II' produced for Lord Moira, afterwards the Marquess of Hastings, by Sita Ram between 1814-15. Marquess of Hastings, the Governor-General of Bengal and the Commander-in-Chief (r. 1813-23), was accompanied by artist Sita Ram (flourished c.1810-22) to illustrate his journey from Calcutta to Delhi between 1814-15.
The British used Patna as a centre for manufacturing opium for exportation and medicinal purposes. The godown or store was located on the river bank and on the site of an old Dutch Factory. View of the principal facade with its basement storey as a rusticated arcade and alternating pedimented windows and pilasters. Inscribed below: 'Opium Godown at Patna.'


 View Post on Facebook

Comments from Facebook

You do know where the word 'godown' comes from? It's English...As in 'go down' to the factory etc....

Hmmm....Interesting.

Factory is an extension of to the word 'factor' which means agent. Not widely used today. Dutch East India Company in today Indonesia appointed factor in several local trading ports to assert her monopoly in the trading of spices.