a company of merchants or travellers, who join together in order to go with more security thro' the dominions of the Grand Mogul, and through other countries on the continent of the E. Indies.

The Caffila differs from a caravan, at least in Persia; for the caffila belongs properly to some sovereign, or to some powerful company in Europe; whereas a caravan is a company of particular merchants, each trading upon his own account. The English and Dutch have each of them their caffila at Gambron.

CAFFILA on the coast of Guzerat or Cambaya, signifies a small fleet of merchant-ships.