Indian Antiquary Vol 58

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 104

94
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[MAY, 1929
(12) Horses imported are not to be seized for the Emperor's use. This was an imposition of recent growth.
(13) Officials not to send for goods to the Company's warehouses. If they should require goods let them say so in public darbár before the governor, so that the latter could insist on payment.
(14) A convenient bandar to be allowed in each port.
(15) In case of the death or departure of a local governor, his debts to be paid by his successor. (This seems to refer to goods taken for public purposes.) The incoming governor had sometimes returned goods taken by his predecessor, or had demanded an abatement of price.
(16) In case the King conquers fresh territory, the Company to retain the rights and privileges it had before such conquest. (In particular, at Madras.) It was alleged that the Dutch had such a privilege.
(17) Privileges in Bengal and the Bay to be preserved. This was a particular istance of No. 16, but the trade in Bengal was so valuable that it was desirable to have a special clause. "If any objection should be made bacause of the great hostilities committed in those parts, you may then say that they were the actions of heat, discontent and misunderstandings on both sides, and what is past cannot be remedied." If this clause should be refused, illdisposed governors might infer that the King was displeased and molest the Company in consequence.
(18) Governors and port officers are not to prevent merchants from trading with the Company. A particular case at Surat was cited.
(19) Should it chance that all the English die (e.g., from piague in any factory), the local governor shall take an exact account of all goods, debts, etc., and render it to the English who come to take charge.
(20) A dispute between the governor and the English in one port shall not lead to the King's displeasure with the English in other ports; offenders only to be punished. Sometimes the local governor might give trouble as lately at Surat, when Abdul Guffore "would have it that we took his ships and goods in the Red Sea"; sometimes "a rash and hott Englishman" or an evil-doer might offend, but his offence should not be visited on Englishmen everywhere.16 Sir John Child and his Council also gave detailed instructions to the envoys on the eve of their departure for the Mughal Court. These were dated 6th of December, 1689, and pointed out that when the English first traded in the Mughal's dominions they only paid 3 per cent custom for goods to be sold at Surat and all other ports; but that on the other hand no duty was paid on silver and gold, neither on provisions imported or exported, nor on presents, apparel or wrought plate. Lately, however, they had suffered much trouble from the Mughal officials, who for personal ends extracted money from them. They reminded the envoys that in 1663 or 1664 when Sivaji and his forces plundered and partly burnt the greater part of Surat the English had defended their factory and several times fought Sivaji's troops in the streets. This brave defence had pleased the Emperor, who in return granted them two favours, viz. of paying only two per cent customs duty and for one year paying none at all. In the year 1679 or 1680, the Emperor had suddenly resolved to force people not of his own religion to pay a poll tax [jizya]. As the English, Dutch and French refused to pay it, the customs duty was raised to 3 per cent which was 1 per cent more than ever had been paid in the Mughal's dominions. That imposition was a great grievance to all the Europeans concerned. As the English were the only people to import gold and silver, directions were given the envoys to secure that customs duty should not be levied beyond the two per cent. They were instructed not to yield on that point, and "if occasion requires it bee att some charge
16 See No. 5686 of O. C. 48, 1.0.