Storia do Mogor 335.1.5

335.1.5

In brief the story is this: When the news of the piracy reached Sūrat, I'tibar Khan proceeded to enforce the provisions of a muchalkah (a bond or agreement) extorted from the Europeans in February, 1699, by the then governor, Amanat Khan. On September 20, 1703, the Dutch ship Zuiddorp arrived, and on October 24 she was followed by the Beverwyk and five others. The port was blockaded, and a correspondence ensued. Finally, on November 24, 1703, I'tibar Khan made a report to court, his action was disapproved, and he was superseded by Najabat Khan. An imperial order was received on March 8, 1704, setting aside the agreement of February, 1699, and withdrawing all demands. A document was taken from the Surat merchants on March 19, 1704, to the effect that they had no further claims. From the English records we get the statement that, so early as September 23, 1703, the Mogul Court had become alarmed, and had called upon I'tibar Khan to report 'why he exacted money from the Hatmen on account of the late Pyracy.' On December 20 the English heard he was superseded by the faujdar of Malkher. This man was Najabat Khan, son of the Najabat Khan of Shahjahan's time and the first years of Aurangzeb. They then refer to the Hasb-ul-hukm of February 13, by which the dispute was closed for the time being (Factory Records, Surat, vols. xiii., c, and ci.; Original Correspondence, vol. lii.)].