Ans. There are so many contemporary Indian historian, who has presented a lengthy account about political and military events of the reigns of Mughal emperor; have very little to so about the economic condition of the people and their commercial activities. But the English and Dutch records of the period give very precious information. The letters of East India Company`s servant from surat to their employers in England and from them to their surat factors being chiefly devoted to their own commercial activities are of great value in tracing the trade of the city of surat. Besides these European travellers, visited Surat and other parts of the country in the 17th century, had given a good account of socio-economic condition of the people and their commercial activities. They were the eyewitness and have left firsthand account of it. They came by different routes on different purposes. Chief among them are Terry (1615-1625), Captain to embassy of Sir Thomas Roe, Pietro Della Valle, Mandelso, Bernier, Tavernier, Jean de Thevenot and Italian traveller Dr. Cremelli Careri.
In
the 17th century Surat was a fairly big city of considerable size. Ovington
says, "the circumference of it, with the suburb, is between two and three
English miles, tending somewhat in its position to the form of a semicircle or
half moon, because of the winding if the river to which half of it
adjoins". The entrance into the city was through several gates; 3 main
gates, one leading to Cambay and Ahmadabad, another to Burhanpur and Navsari. Sentries
were posted at each gate, who kept on eye on all incoming and outgoing persons.
The city has ordinary and splendid building. European travellers who visited
Surat in 17th century have remarked that the houses of the inhabitant were not
in proportion to their wealth because they hidden their riches. Even the houses
of the rich people were not splendid. The sarkar of Surat comprising 31 mahals
including the Bandan (Port and surrounding territories) was placed under the
governor (Hakim). Finch remarks about the location of Surat that the city has
many fair merchants houses therein standing twenty miles within the land up a
fair river is the barred, where the ship trade and unload; where on at a spring
tide is 3 fathom water over this channel is fair to the city side able to bear
vessels of 50s tuner laden. There is not an accurate figure about the
population existing. However, the population estimated to be about 2 lakh. The
population consists of administrative merchants, artisans, weavers and
agriculturist, which may be mainly divided into 3 broad sectors:- Hindus,
Muslims and Parsis, besides these Foreigners.
The
Hindus were in majority at Surat. They were occupied in trade and other line of
work; and also linked with administration and appreciated in revenue
departments to the port where mathematical and commercial knowledge was
necessary, i.e. as accountant and in the mint to examine the purity of gold and
silver. Muslims were generally engaged in the administration-military as well
as civil. The Parsis were in minority, rich and industrious people. Among
foreigners, English, Dutch and French had their factories at Surat established
under the farmans of the Mughal Emperors.
Surat
as a future trade market was chosen due to great entrepot of the Mughal Empire
on the coast of India. According to a contemporary traveller, a city of great
trade in all the classes of merchandise. A very important sea port and
frequented Surat was prominent port of empire in Mughal period and it came in
to prominence during at the starting of 17th century, after the
discovery of Swally hole. John Fryer visited Surat in 1674; found Surat as an
entrepot for foreign as well as Indian trade. Surat has its trade relation with
South East Asia and Middle East. The main imports of Surat from these countries
were quicksilver, porcelain cowries or seashells. Surat became one of the emporiums
of the World because of the merchandise it received by land and sea. The English
East India Company soon realized the economic importance of the city of Surat. The
English factory was established at Surat in 1612.
The
French factory at Surat was established in 1668. The English and Dutch had
already established their factories at Surat in year 1612 & 1618,
respectively. But the French took interest in India long before the foundation
of “campagnie des Indes Orientale`s” in 1664. The contract between India
and French was established by 3 classes of people, first by Missionaries,
second by travellers and third by traders, who had a field already prepared for
them by the first two classes of people. Travellers like Jean de Thevenot,
Franscois Bernier, Jean Baptist Tavernier and other who wrote retailed accounts
of the condition of India. The Missionaries established contact with local
population and native authorities. Beber and La Boullaye started from Surat to
Mughal court at Delhi to seek trade privileges. They were welcomed at Mughal court
and presented the personal letter of Louis XIV to the emperor Aurangzeb. The Mughal
emperor granted them a farman dated 11August, 1666 and French were allowed to
established a factory at Surat.
Conclusion
Surat
is an ancient city and port by all evidence and had been through centuries a
centre of maritime trade. The city was very populous and full of merchants. The
city had a very considerable number of foreign settlers. Apart from Europeans, Turks,
Jews, Arabians, Persians and Armenians were the part of the society and played
a crucial role in economy and trade.
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