History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c83.s8.33

v5.c83.s8.33

The Dutch offered to clear the Indian seas of the pirates and to be responsible for the safety of the pilgrims to Arabia if they were given the exclusive right of trading in the Mughal empire free of duty. This was declined by the Emperor. Then Sir John Gayer offered to send two armed English vessels annually to patrol the seas, if the Emperor would exclude the interlopers from his realm. Annesley wrote to the Mughal Government undertaking to supply convoy for the Indian vessels in the Arabian Sea or stand responsible for their safety, on condition of the English being granted the sum of four lakhs of Rupees which the Emperor annually paid to the Siddi for the same service, though the Siddi had clearly failed to do the work. [I. O. L. MS. 61b ; Bruce, iii. 189-191.]