History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c84.s6.t1.2

v5.c84.s6.t1.2

The economic and social condition of Gujrat, its poor soil, its liability to disturbances, have been described in Vol. I. Ch. 4 of this work. Its wealth was mainly due to its handicrafts and commerce. The former could flourish only in walled cities and in the villages nestling in their shelter. In commerce not only did its people, both Hindus and Muham-madans, possess a natural capacity surpassing that of other natives of India, but Gujrat enjoyed a position of exceptional advantage. All the merchandise of the rich inland districts of Khandesh, Berar, Malwa and even Upper India had to cross Gujrat for shipment abroad. On the coast of this province stand the greatest ports of India,—Broach in Hindu times and Surat in Muslim, while the ports of Konkan, further south afforded an outlet for the produce of the Deccan plateau.