Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c6.s2.t2.60

c6.s2.t2.60

*Foreign Merchants in Hindustan.*—The contemporary chroniclers sometimes complain of the profiteering character of the foreign merchants in India and their utter want of sympathy with Hindustan and its people. We have already mentioned the instance of foreigners under Muhammad Tughluq.³ Many others may be added to justify the validity and force of the accusation. It is usually forgotten that the foreign traders who came to India had no particular attachment to any country and went wherever the prospects of big profits attracted them. Some of them might have been interested in spreading the religion of Islam⁴; others may have married and settled down and thus cultivated some sympathy towards the land of their domicile.⁵ But on the whole, the foreign traders as a community were only interested in carrying on their business and making profits. It should not be forgotten, however, that the contact of foreigners incidentally contributed to the improvement of certain unhealthy social traditions, and raised the standard of life of certain localities. The coastal towns of India and inland centres, such as Multan, Lahore, Delhi and Gaur, which were favourite haunts of foreign merchants, were the most progressive centres of Hindustan in many respects.