24 ? 
influence to frustrate our trade, and prevent a settlement. At 
length, in October 16 T 2 , a treaty was concluded by Captain Best 
with the Mogul government, that an ambassador from the King 
of England should reside at the imperial court; that on the arrival 
of the Company’s ships at Swally, the anchoring ground near Surat 
bar, proclamation should be made, three several days successively, 
in the city of Surat, that the people of the country might freely 
come and trade with the English at the water-side; and settled the 
duties on their commodities at. three and a half per cent.: it also 
exempts the trade, and the factory then permitted to be esta- 
blished, from responsibility for the robberies of English pirates : 
and that in all questions of wrongs and injuries done to the Eng- 
lish nation, justice should be rendered without delay, or exorbitant 
charge. 
Such was the commencement of our trade with Surat, which is 
situated in 21° 11' north latitude, and 72” 50 east longitude: the 
outer walls of the city are seven miles in circumference, with twelve 
gates: between each gate are irregular lowers, mounted with can- 
non, and the walls are perforated for musquetry: the inner town is 
surrounded by a similar wall, and an equal number of gates: the 
streets are narrow, the houses generally lofty, and crowded with 
inhabitants: between the outer and inner walls, are many streets 
and houses; but, like most other oriental cities, much of that 
space is occupied by villas, gardens, and cultivated land, producing 
grain, fruit, and vegetables. 
The bazars, filled with costly merchandize, picturesque and in- 
teresting groups of natives on elephants, camels, horses, and 
mules; strangers from all parts of the globe, in their respective 
