The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s8.134

c7.s8.134

There are two forts which show that the Portuguese were scarcely inferior in the art of fort-building to the Maráthás. One of these is Thána, the size and strength of which can still be seen after all the alterations it has undergone, and which seems to owe nothing to the Maráthás. The other is the fort of Korlai opposite to Chaul, which is perhaps the most interesting of any Portuguese building remaining in the Konkan. The plan, however, which is very striking and unlike anything else in the district, is Musalmán,⁴ the Portuguese having destroyed the first fortress and afterwards rebuilt it on the same plan. It stands on a very narrow ridge which stretches far across the mouth of the river, and which is completely surrounded by a strong wall. Inside this are two walls crossing the ridge at the top, and as each was strongly protected by towers and bastions there were virtually three fortresses. On the north side the hill slopes gently down to the water's edge, and this slope, being enclosed like the rest of the hill by the fortified wall, formed a broad way, which also was crossed by walls and bastions and ended at the bottom in a wide level space. Here apparently were the quarters of the garrison and a strong battery commanding the entrance of the river. On the most prominent point of this stood a large cross, and the bastions and gateways all over the fort were dedicated to saints whose names are engraved on them.