The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c19.74

v4.c19.74

Similarly, the customs duty was regulated to put pressure on the Hindus. It was originally fixed at the uniform rate of 2½ per cent. *ad valorem* for all, but in 1665 it was doubled for the Hindu merchants, and two years later abolished altogether in the case of Muslims, with the result that the revenue suffered still more from many Hindu merchants collusively passing off their goods as the property of Muslims. A third instrument of the policy of luring his subjects to embrace Islām was the granting of stipends and gifts to converts, and the offering of posts in the public service, liberation from prison in the case of convicted criminals or captive rebels, or succession to disputed estates and principalities on condition of turning Muslim. Some Muhammadan families in the Punjab still hold letters patent by which their Hindu ancestors were expressly granted posts as *qānūngo* or revenue inspectors as a reward of apostasy, *qānūngoī ba shart-i-Islām*. In 1671 an order was issued that the revenue collectors of crown lands must all be Muslims and that the Hindu head-clerks and accountants in all provinces and *taluqs* (estates) should be dismissed in order to make room for Muhammadans. The enforcement of this order was found to be impossible on account of the lack of competent Muslims, and therefore the emperor had later to tolerate Hindus in half of these public posts. In 1668 Hindu religious fairs were forbidden throughout the empire, and in 1695 all Hindus, with the exception of Rājputs, were forbidden to ride in palanquins, on elephants or good horses, and to carry arms.