History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c83.s1.1

v5.c83.s1.1

The English nation established their first trade factory at Surat in 1692 and exchanged goods with Agra and Delhi by the land route. From Agra attempts were made in 1620 and 1632 to open up trade at Patna in Bihar, but the cost of land transport from Surat all the long way across the Indian peninsula to Agra and thence to Patna was prohibitive, especially for bulky goods like saltpetre, and this project was wisely abandoned.*