124 HISTORY OF AURANGZIB. [CHAP. VI. Aurangzib now set about reviving the commerce of the province by affording facilities to the maritime trade. He opened a new port at the mouth of the Indus, and built there a fort and dock to give it at the mouth of security and usefulness. But it Aurangzib opens a new port the Indus. took time for the new harbour to become known to mariners, and for some months the only ship that used it was a vessel belonging to the Prince. The Emperor excused the duty on merchandise in order to attract trade to it.* We read of his financial difficulties at this time. His jagirs produced little revenue, as the result of drought, the locust plague, and floods, in three successive seasons. He begged for financial assistance from the Emperor, saying that he had no hoard of gold pieces, but had spent all his income in keeping his army efficient, as he did not care to buy jewels like other princes. But the Emperor gave him an angry refusal.t Aurangzib's administrative capacity, however, must not be judged from these few achievements they go in two months by water to Lahore and return down the river in one... Great trade is carried on at Tatta and ships of 300 tons might be brought up to Larry Bunder " Whitt- ington in 1614, Purchas, 1, quoted in Kerr's Voyages and Travels, ix. 131 and 130. For the silting up, Tavernier, i. 12.
- Adab-i-Alamgiri, 6a.
† Adab, 172a. Digitized by Microsoft Ⓡ
