“In this realm of India, although King Aurangzeb destroyed numerous temples, there does not thereby fail to be many left at different places, both in… - Niccolao Manucci

Manucci writes, “I assert that in the Mughal Kingdom, the nobles and above all the King, live with such ostentation that the most sumptuous of European Courts cannot compare in richness and magnificence with the lustre beheld in the Indian Court.” Similar was the impression made on Pelsaert’s mind.“

According to Manucci, income from Jizya was ‚considerable‛ but ‚not fixed being sometimes more and sometimes less‛. He says ‚This variation is caused by deaths and by travellers moving from one place to another. If carrying with them a receipt for what they have paid, the latter are allowed to pass free. If they chance to lose their paper (i.e. receipt of having paid Jizya), or it be stolen, they are made to pay again either in the same or in another province‛. The officials, he adds further, ‚embezzle their collections most terribly, to such an extent that the King gets more often than not less than half‛.37

This city (Banaras) is small, but very ancient, and venerated by the Hindus by reason of a temple there possessing a very ancient idol. Some years after my visit Aurangzeb sent orders for its destruction when he undertook the knocking down of all temples. …..‛