A History of Agriculture in India v2.c80.s1.1

v2.c80.s1.1

Agra was the capital of Mughal India during the reign of Jahangir. A graphic account of the city of Agra has been provided by a Dutchman, Francisco Pelsaert, in his report entitled *Remonstrantie*, written in 1626. Pelsaert was employed as a factor by the Dutch East India Company at Agra, which was the centre of indigo trade. This report sums up his experience of seven years' stay at Agra. Pelsaert wrote, 'The city of Agra is situated in 28° 45' latitude: The city is exceedingly large, but decayed, open land, unwalled. The streets and houses are built without any regular plan. There are, indeed, many palaces belonging to great princes and lords, but they are hidden away in alleys and corners. This is due to the sudden growth of the city, which was a mere village lying in the jurisdiction of Bayana, until King Akbar chose it for his residence in the year 1566, and built the magnificent fort on the Jumna, which flows past the city, and is a musket-shot broad. The luxuriance of the groves all round makes it resemble a royal park rather than a city, and everyone acquired and purchased the plot of land which suited or pleased him best. Consequently there are no remarkable market-places, or bazars, as there are in Lahore, Burhanpur, Ahmadabad or other cities, but the whole place is closely built over and inhabited; Hindus mingled with Moslems, the rich with the poor; and if the present King (Jahangir) had fixed his residence here as his father did, the city would have become one of the wonders of the world, for the gates which Akbar built for its security (Madari darwaza, Chaharsu darwaza, Nim darwaza, Puttu (?) darwaza, Nuri darwaza) now stand in the middle of the city, and the area of buildings outside them is fully three times greater in extent.