question_answer 11)

The merchants had to pass through many kingdoms and forests. They had fear of being robbed while passing through forests. Hence they usually travelled in caravans and formed guilds to protect their interests.  

Answer:

Great Indian traders like Mulla Abdul Ghafur and Virji Vora who owned a large number of ships competed with them. But the European Companies ' used their naval power to gain control of the sea trade and forced Indian traders to work as their agents.             . These were the problems encountered by the then merchants. There is no exaggeration if we say that some of the these problems still exist today.