History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c83.s4.1

v5.c83.s4.1

Now, for the fiscal relations of the Mughal Government with the English traders. In 1664, the gallantry displayed by the English (and Dutch) merchants of Surat in defending their factories against Shivaji and thereby saving the houses of some of their Indian neighbours, was rewarded by the Emperor who ordered a reduction of half a per cent on the normal import duty on the goods of these two nations for an undefined period in future, i.e., they had to pay 2 p.c. instead of 2½ p.c. customs. This concession* was withdrawn in 1679.