History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c83.s4.4

v5.c83.s4.4

A *farman* of Aurangzib, dated 26th June 1667, informs the officials at Surat that in future the English traders there should pay only 2 p.c. *ad valorem* duty on all goods imported by them to that harbour, and that the governors, captains of guards, lieutenants of countries (i.e., *faujdars*), guards of passes and highways (*rahdars*)...should not stop on the way the merchandise which the English purchased in Bengal Agra and other provinces and transported by way of Burhanpur and Ahmadabad for sale in the port of Surat, on the pretence of taking *rahdari* or other duties and *abwabs* abolished by the Emperor. This concession was granted at the prayer of the English merchants, backed by a letter from Ghiyas-ud-din Khan, the governor of Surat, to the wazir Jafar Khan, recommending the English as deserving of imperial favours. [Forrest, Select. Bombay, Home Series, i. 213.]