MUGHAL ADMIRALTY

 Write an essay on the Mughal Admiralty.

What were the characteristic features and significance of the Mughal Admiralty?

Under the Mughals an Imperial Naval establishment was founded and maintained particularly in Bengal, the home of Indian shipbuilding.

Babar, the founder of the Mughal empire fought the naval battel on the Ganges near Kanary in 1528, in which he seized thirty to forty boats of the enemy and the other on the Gogra at which he collected hundred to hundred and fifty vessels.

After the consolidation of the Mughal power, Akbar organized an Imperial Navy and established the office of Meer Bahri which continued to be interpreted as the Admiralty or Navy Headquarters. The functions of Akbar’s navy or his headquarters were divided under four sections:

Material

Personal

Internal waterways

Customs.

 

The material section – had under its charge the construction of ships and rafts, and their efficient maintenance. Ships and rivercrafts of different tonnages were constructed to suit their role in accordance with the requirements of the service. Some of them were built for the transportation of elephants to be employed in sieges and also for the conveyance of merchandise. Some ships served for convenient habitations. The Emperor had also built pleasure boats with convenient apartments and others on which there were floating markets and flower gardens.

The Personnel – The second duty of Akbar’s admiralty was regarding the supply of men, of efficient mariners who knew the nature of tides, the depth of channels, the coasts to be avoided and the character of the prevailing winds. Every ship required officers and men of the following titles and description:

The Nakoda or Commander of the vehicle who directed the course of the ship.

The Maullim (the mate) who know the surroundings, the situation of the stars and guided the ship safely to her destination.

The Tundell (Tandel) was the chief of the Khalasis or sailors.

The Nakhoda-Khesheb whose duty was to provide fuel for the ship and assist in loading and unloading the ship.

The Sirheng who had to superintend the docking and launching of the ship.

The Bhandari who was in charge of the store of the ship.

The Keranee (ship’s clerk) to keep accounts.

The Sukangeer – They were helmsmen and were usually twenty on a ship.

The Punjeree – His duty was to look out from the top of the mast and give notice when he saw land or a ship, or discovered a storm rising or any other object worth observing.

The Goomtee – the Khelasses who threw the water out of the ship.

The Gunners – their number differed according to the size of the ship.

The Kherwah or the common seaman, who were employed in setting and furling the sails and in stopping leaks, and in case of the anchor sticking fast in the ground they had to go to the bottom of the water and set it free.

Internal waterways – The third task of the admiralty was to ‘watch the rivers’. All the waterways were kept under surveillance. Several rules were made for the correct use of navigable rivers.

Customs – The customs section was responsible for the appraisal, levy and collection of customs revenue. Apart from a small charge on the import and export of goods, they also levied a cess on ships and crafts newly constructed and imposed river tolls.

The Ain-i-Akbari gives some details regarding the river tolls in Akbar’s times: For every boat 1 Rupee per cos was charged. A ferry places an elephant had to pay 10 d. for crossing. Overhead burden pay 1/16 d.

The Mughal Navy paid more attention towards the Bengal region which was constantly under attack from the Muggs, the Arakanese and the Portuguese. To repulse such attacks, the Imperial flotilla was operating form Dacca as its base. Akbar had kept 3000 vessels or boats but afterwards he reduced it to 768. The Zamindars were required to provide the required number.

Akbar used his navy either to put down piracy or to subjugate rebellion of the chieftains such as Mirza Jani Beg of Tuatta and Daud of Patna. His viceroy, Raja Mansingh used the fleet to defeat KedaraRaya, the Lord of Sripura.

Akbar’s conquest of Gujarat by land battles brought to him the flourishing parts of the Gujarat peninsular which gave him vast commercial gains.

After the death of Akbar in 1605, Islam Khan, the Governor of Bengal, transferred the seat of government from Ramahal to Dacca and increased the fleet and artillery.

In 1638 A.D. the Magg pirates used to come to Dacca for plunder and abduction and consider the whole of Bengal as their Jagir. In 1638, the tribes belonging to Bihar and Assam began to cause trouble on the eastern frontier of Bengal and the Mughal fleets had very tough time.

Special ships for pilgrimage to Mecca and Median were organized by the Mughals.

In the reign of Aruangzeb, when Mir Jumla became viceroy of Bengal in 1660, he made a new arrangement of the flotilla. He made provision of fourteen lakh of rupees for the payment and other expenses. He built several forts, good military roads and bridges in the vicinity of the town. In 1661, he marched against Kock Behar and annexed the kingdom. In the year 1662 when Raja Bhim Narayan fled, Mir Jumla launched attack on Assam and captured 300 to 400 ships of the enemy with guns on each. The Mughal fleet consisted of 323 ships. After the victory, a terrible sickness spread among the troops resulting in the death of many naval officers and men including Mir Jumla. After his death, the Bengal flotilla was utterly ruined. Thaking advantage of this situation, the Pirates entered into Dacca and defeated Munawar Khan, Zamindar and thus all the boats which had remained were destroyed.

In 1664, Shaista Khan became Viceroy who decided to suppress piracy at any cost. He devoted all his energy to the rebuilding of the flotilla and the creation of a new one. He ordered to rebuild ships at Hugli, Balesore, Murang, Chillamri, Jessore and Kalibari which were principal centers of ship building and ordered to send ships to Dacca and thus within the shortest period 300 ships were built.

Besides Bengal, there were other ports of India at the time of Aurangzeb.

The great trading and shipping center of the time was Machilipatnam. It was the most flourishing center.

The King of Golkonda also had ships and he traded yearly to Arrahan, Tennessery and Ceylon to purchase elephants.

Narsapoore, 45 miles north of Masulpatnam was another important shipping center under workmanship and timber was excellent.

Madapotlum was another shipping center where many English merchants and others had their ships and vessels yearly built. Here the best and well grown timber was available in plenty and the best iron work was performed by the natives. Spikes, bolts, anchors, etc. These were expert master builders busy in building ships.

According to Bowery – ‘Ship-money’ was imposed by Shaista Khan of Bengal on the merchant community to build up the naval defense of the country.

On the west coast, Aurangzeb had four great ships at Surat always ready to carry pilgrims to Mecca free of cost. Those vessels (ships) were huge. In 1691, everyone of the most notorious English Pirates took a ship belonging to the Emperor Aurangzeb himself called the ‘Gunj Suwaie’ (exceeding treasure). According to Khafi Khan, the historian, the Gunj Suwaie was the largest ship form Surat port. She carried eight guns and four match locks. She was annually sent to Mecca carrying Indian goods to Mecca and Jedda. She was returning to Surat with season’s trading amounting to 52 lakhs of rupees, silver and gold.

Types of ships / boats

Massoola – for loading and unloading ships; light, hardly any timber, flat-bottomed

Purgoos – for loading and unloading.

Catamaran – 4-6 large pieces of buoyant timber, 3–4-ton capacity.

Patellas – strong built, flat bottomed vessels.

Booras – very high, floaty boats, 20-30 oars, trade carrying salt, pepper, etc., from Hugli to Dacca.

Oloako – 4-6 oars, plying for a fare.

Budgaroo – pleasure boat – upper class

Bajra – large boat, with little room in the center.