The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s8.121

c7.s8.121

This sketch of the Portuguese Government of the Konkan has rather exceeded the proper limits, but the subject is an interesting one, and no connected account of it can be got from books readily obtainable. It only remains to add that the Portuguese during the period of their supremacy and for many years afterwards lived in India with considerable magnificence. Fryer speaks of the "stately aldeas and dwellings on both sides of the Thána creek, and the delicate country mansions of the Fidalgos who all over the island live like petty monarchs." The mansion of John de Mello, three miles from Thána, was "curiously built with a terraced descent and walks and gardens extending half a mile down to a stately banqueting house over the water with stone steps for landing." And a mile further stood "Grebondel, a large neat built town of Martin Alfonso's, with his house fort and church of as stately architecture as India can afford, he being the richest Don on this side Goa.” The Fidalgos at Bassein had “stately dwellings graced with covered balconies and large windows two stories high with panes of oyster shell or latticed.”¹ Gemelli speaks of the pleasure-houses of the Portuguese gentry near Bassein in the same way.² Of these lordly mansions there is now nothing to be seen but a few ruined walls, though foundations may here and there be traced of sufficient extent to prove the truth of these accounts.