[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 139 # Storia do Mogor 139: AURANGZEB REMITS THE TOBACCO TAX. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 139 - **Language:** English ### [139](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.139) On reaching Dihli, I heard that only a short time before the king had withdrawn the tobacco tax, owing to a horrible event that happened. All the world knows \[133\] that the tax-contractors who engage for the taxes and duties are most shameless and mannerless. They spare no respectable persons, except those of the highest position, and that chiefly when Mahomedans, such persons being, as they know, very easily roused. It happened that a soldier of strict habits wanted to enter the city, having with him his wife in a covered vehicle, as usual among Mahomedans. A tax-gatherer ordered him to halt, and asked if he had any tobacco. The Mahomedans consume a great deal of this article in smoking. This is why the chief tax-farmer paid five thousand rupees a day at this city (Dihli) only. From this the reader can understand what would be the revenue from tobacco paid to the King of Hindustan throughout such a great empire. The soldier replied that he, being a man of serious habits, did not smoke tobacco, neither he nor his wife, who was in the vehicle, and he might trust his word. The tax-collector would not believe him, and wanted to search the cart. To this the soldier would not consent, not wishing his wife to be seen in public, and remonstrated, saying if such an affront were done him, he would repent of it later on. But the tax-collector would not listen to a word, and uncovered the vehicle to make his search. The soldier laid hand on his sword and cut off the man's head, also wounded several attendants. Not content with this even, he killed his wife too, and a daughter she had with her. He was seized and carried off to prison, and a complaint was laid before the king. Upon hearing the soldier's defence, the king abolished the tax and released the soldier, having compassion on him for his loss of temper. Among the Mahomedans it is a great dishonour for a family when a wife is compelled to uncover herself. By this event tobacco was no longer so dear, and numerous merchants lost much from this circumstance, whereby the king conferred a benefit on the poor. - [Previous: 138.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.138.6) - [Next: 140.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.140.1) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.139](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.139) · Pramāṇa