a company of merchants or travellers, who join together in order to go with more security through the dominions of the Grand Mogul, and through other countries on the continent of the East 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 Gambrow. There are also such caffilas, which cross some parts of the deserts of Africa, particularly that called the sea of sand, which lies between the kingdom of Morocco and those of Tombut and Gaigo. This is a journey of 400 leagues; and takes up two months in going, and as many in coming back; the caffila travelling only by night, on account of the excessive heat of that country. The chief merchandise they bring back consists in gold dust, which they call aitbar, and the Europeans tibir.

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