Tales from later Mughals

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The Custom House When European traders arrived in India, their first encounter was with the custom officials. It was customary that as soon as a ship anchored, its captain made his way to the custom house by boat and announced the arrival of his ship. The custom officials then sent some armed soldiers to guard the ship so nothing could be smuggled to the shore until it was thoroughly checked. The custom house was a simple building, containing a large hall which accommodated many officials assigned to different tasks. The timings were from 10 am to noon. If traders or travellers arrived late they had to wait on their ships till the next day to report their arrival. There were a large number of peons in the custom house who were in charge of controlling the crowds and would even beat them up in case of disorder. Newly arrived traders, after passing through a courtyard, entered a big room where the higher officers used to sit. First their name was registered and then they were thoroughly searched. After this, they were allowed to go to the city. Their baggage was searched and released 134
later. Custom officials searched everything very minutely and often took months to complete the job. The reason for this was that European traders often attempted to smuggle unlawful goods and tried to avoid the payment of custom duties. However, the Munhall officers did not search the President of the Surat factory or any women. The in-charge of the port was known as Shah Bandar. The officer who collected the custom duties was called Mir Bahar. If somebody tried to evade paying duties he was punished but his baggage and goods were not confiscated; however, some traders managed to avoid payment by bribing the officers. Tavernier, who visited India from 1665 to 1667, mentions in his travelogue that the English traders often smuggled small items of gold and silver; one tactic was to hide gold coins in wigs and wear the wig when disembarking as that was the least likely place to be searched. Tavernier writes that "As soon as merchandise is landed at Surat it has to be taken to the custom-house, which adjoins the fort. The officers are very strict and search persons with great care. Private individuals pay as much as four to five per cent duty on their goods ...English and Dutch Companies pay less. But, on the other hand, I believe that taking into account what it costs them in deputations and presents, which they are obliged to make every year at court, the goods cost them nearly the same as they do private persons." Lahribandar was another important and busy port in Sindh. The Portuguese were the first who arrived here for trade. Custom officers of the port became so familiar with 135
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Tales from Later Mughuls 1
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Copyright© 2014 All rights reserve
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From Mulitary Adventurer to Nawab 9
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of them retired to their home towns
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it in getting political ascendancy.
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The Decline of Power Studying the h
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to face the regional armies who wer
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Death of the Institutions There is
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eluctantly surrendered to the regio
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Dynastic Rule The Mughal dynasty, w
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ule. On the question of succession,
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The Salatin The term Salatin was us
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the British Resident that his month
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Story of a Mughals The descendents
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treated well by Nawab Asifud Dowla
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Financial Condition of The Later Mu
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meet the expenses. The Red Fort was
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Manners and Society Manners and soc
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unless asked. For common people the
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The Etiquette of Mughal Court Mugha
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told the emperor that he should not
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Decadence of the Mughal Nobility Th
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had the titles of Amin or A`timad o
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Nobility on the Decline One of the
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As most of the state officials were
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Of Sadists and Savages Eighteen cen
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a while he awoke and rebuked the pr
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which he killed Farrukhsiyar`s fath
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Abdullah Khan, who was on his way t
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of the state reducing the authority
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whenever political candidates attem
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palaces and spent more time in merr
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This culture had a deep impact on t
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Awadh who spent large amounts on we
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Although Sharar glamorised the feud
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situation where their wealth and pr
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Soldiering On It was the common pra
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their dues but also promised some e
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The Looting Soldiers Although the s
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example, when Jaswantrao Hulker, th
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converted to Christianity along wit
Page 84 and 85: Her career fully reflects the decli
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Page 88 and 89: down their arms; some of them compr
Page 90 and 91: In 1794, he got an opportunity when
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Page 96 and 97: now he wanted a peaceful life. Ther
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Page 100 and 101: Europeans. As their eating and drin
Page 102 and 103: were employed from 1784 to 1903 by
Page 104 and 105: Singh had to sign a contract that a
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Page 108 and 109: lives in peace. Whatever they got a
Page 110 and 111: person. An English officer Col. Sle
Page 112 and 113: language, as well as the local lang
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Page 118 and 119: country to earn a good living. The
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Page 122 and 123: his guards. It became customary for
Page 124 and 125: Indianisation of the British As the
Page 126 and 127: available to the rich, one can unde
Page 128 and 129: political power, those who came to
Page 130 and 131: The complete break up between these
Page 132 and 133: French to resolve their internal di
Page 136 and 137: the Portuguese that they even learn
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Page 140 and 141: affairs of the country was in the S
Page 142 and 143: the traders. They were attached to
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Tales from later Mughals

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