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“ fairs with the chief of all spices, with precious stones and gold. 
“ Haran and Canneh were thy merchants for blue cloths, and 
“ broidered work, in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and 
“ made of cedar. All that handle the oar, and all the pilots of 
“ the sea, come down from their ships, they did sing of thee in thy 
“ markets, and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in 
“ the midst of the seas!” 
This is a true picture of oriental commerce in ancient times; 
and a very exact description of the port, and bazars of Surat, at 
the present day. 
The public buildings at Surat are few and mean: the durbar, 
or nabob’s palace, though extensive and convenient, makes but a 
shabby appearance. The mosques and minarets are small, with- 
out taste or elegance. The Hindoo temples are not more conspi- 
cuous, and the serais, or caravansaries, much out of repair. 
I need not at present enter into a detail of the disputes and 
disturbances which existed in Surat until the year 1759; at which 
time a firmaun, or grant, was obtained from the Great Mogul, 
constituting the English East India Company governors of the 
castle, and investing them with the office of admiral of the fleet; 
which dignities they still possess. Some alterations in favour of 
the English have since taken place at Surat; when I was in India 
the English and Mogul flags were both displayed on different 
towers in the castle: the Mogul’s broad-pendant was hoisted in the 
principal armed vessel employed on the Surat station; and a sort 
of double government, divided between the nabob and the East 
India Company, existed in the city. 
The Dutch, French, and Portuguese nations, had no share in 
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