B a $s e in .
V lSR A B U V .
I s l e o f S a l -?
SE T T E .
this coaft, was the ufurped property o f the Portuguefe; but the
greateft part of this extremity was wrefted from them by the
Mahrattas; a few places they'retained for fome time, but at
length all fell under the power of the new ufurpers. Among
the places was BaJJein, which had been taken by Nugns d'A-
cugna, viceroy o f India, in 1555, and by him ftrongly fortified,
it was in our days feized by the Mabrattas, and again, in 1780,
by the Lnglifh, under General Goddard, who reftored it to its
late matters by the treaty of 1782.
Doctor Fryer, who vifited this city about the year 1670,
When it was in pofleflion o f the Portuguefe, fpeaks o f it as a
very conuderable place, having fix churches, four convents, a
college o f Jefuits, and another o f Francifcans.
A b o u t twenty miles from hajfein, inland, is Vifrabuy, famous
for its hot wells, which are in high efteem for their
medicinal' virtues, and accounted, by the Hindoos, o f great
fan&ity-.
T h e principal ifle is that o f Salfette, which is divided from
the continent by a very narrow channel; it is about fifteen
miles in circumference, and rich in fruits and vegetables.
General Goddard included this ifland in his other conquefts. R
was wifely retained on the conclufion o f the peace, and confirmed
to us by the laft peace, together with fome little ifles or
rocks that lay within the important bay. Salfette was gallantly
defended by an old man o f ninety-two, who, being fummoned
to furrender, anfwered, “ He was not fent for that purpofe.”
It was not till he was flain in a bloody aifault that the place
was taken, but at the price o f four hundred of ourgrena-
g diers.
diers. The capture gave freih fecurity and importance to the
ifle of Bombay.
T h a t ifland was part o f the portion given to Charles IT. with I«.*»» or B o m -
his Queen, in 1662. His Majefty fent, in 1661, fames Ley, Earl BAV"
of Marlborough, a moft experienced failor, with a ftrong fleet,
to receive it from the Portuguefe. This nobleman was killed
ibón after his return, in the bloody fea fight againtt the Dutch
in 1665. “ He was,” fays Clarendon, “ a man of wonderful
“ parts in all forts o f learning, which he took more delight in.
“ than in his title*.” Charles, in 1668, granted the ifland to the
Laft India Company, under a rent o f ten pounds in gold, payable
annually at the Cuftom-houfe at London.
Its length is about feven miles; it is flat, and at firft was
extremely unwholefome, infomuch, that “ two monfoons at
“ Bombay is the age o f a man,” became here a proverb ; but by
draining, and by prohibiting the ufe of putrid fifh for manuring
the coco trees, it is rendered tolerably healthy, and is become
the great port and fhip yard of the Lnglijh in India ; three
hundred fail can at one time lie here in fafety.
On the ifle is the town, the docks, and arfenal, feated in Town, D o c k s ,
Lat. 18“ 58' N. Long. 72“ 40' E. flrongly fortified; and behind &c‘
them the Dungeree town for the natives. When the Portuguefe
ceded this place to us, it had only ten thoufand inhabitants. By
our mild government, in 1764 it increafed to fixty thoufand.
Abbe Raynal gives this ifland a hundred thouiand inhabitants, of
which feven or eight thoufand are failors. Mr. Ives calls it the
grand ftorehoufe o f all the Arabian and Perjian commerce. The
* Lord Clarendon’s Life, ¡1. 508 Anderfon’s Difl. ii. 119.
N 2 Arabs