It would seem as if the only thing Shahjahan cared for was the search for women to serve his pleasure ... for this end he established a fair at his c… - Niccolao Manucci

[Manucci says that just before the emperor died, he (Aurangzeb) said:] “I die happy for at least the world will be able to say that I have employed every effort to destroy the enemies of the Muhammedan faith.”

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. …..‛