Page:Aurangzíb and the Decay of the Mughal Empire.djvu/132

126 costly presents of money and jewels which it was the custom of every noble, every official, every suitor, and every traveller, to offer to the Great Mogul. Tavernier's present to Aurangzíb on one single occasion amounted in value to 12,119 livres, or over £900, and this was a trifle compared with the vast sums presented by the nobles to his Majesty on his birthday and other occasions.

But if detailed returns of these numerous sources of income are wanting, we have three separate statements by Europeans which may guide us to a rough estimate of the gross revenue. Their consistency adds to their probability; but they are only vague guesses at the best. The first is the statement by William Hawkins, who lived on intimate terms with Jahángír from 1609 to 1611, that the Emperor's revenue was fifty crores of rupees (£56,000,000). It is true he damages his evidence by saying that this was the King's 'yearly income of his crown land,' which is manifestly absurd in the face of other returns already quoted: but if the 50,00,00,000 rupees be taken to mean the gross revenue from all sources, or more than double the revenue from land, it is not perhaps much exaggerated. The second statement is that of Catrou or his authority Manucci (the two are unfortunately inseparable), who, referring to 1697, says that the recorded revenue of 43½ millions is derived solely from the fruits of the earth, and that the 'casuel' or extraordinary and fluctuating revenue,  'égale, à peu près, ou surpasse même les immenses