[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.fleet-1882) › c7.s8.26 # The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s8.26 The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s8.26 - **Language:** English ### [c7.s8.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.fleet-1882.c7.s8.26) The military establishments in the Konkan must be next mentioned. After the Viceroy and the great dignitaries of the Church there was no greater officer than the General of the North who resided at Bassein,³ and after him came the captains of Bassein, Daman, Chaul, and Salsette. All these appointments were held for short terms of years. Bassein Daman and Chaul are said to have been the only fortresses (fortalezza) between Cambay and Goa, except one at Dábhol which was not in the possession of the Portuguese.⁴ No fort is mentioned in Salsette in 1634 except the small one at Vesáva (Madh). The Bassein district then extended from the Vaitarna to Karanja, and in this there were besides the captain of Bassein, fourteen captains of forts and tranqueiras, that is stockaded posts. The district of Daman extended from the Vaitarna to Párner and included the thánádáris of Sanján, Dáhánu, Tárápur, and Máhim. All along this part of the coast were many towers and fortified houses for protection against the pirates, as is apparent from the ruins still standing, and there were also the important inland forts of Asheri and Manor. But it does not appear that there was then anything so large or strong as the now ruined forts of Dáhánu and Tárápur must have been, and the garrisons were small and included but few Portuguese.⁵ Bassein and Chaul were the two great places of arms, and were apparently considered sufficient for the protection of the whole coast. But in 1728 the Factor of Bassein made a detailed report⁶ on the defences of the North Konkan, drawing particular attention to the insecure condition of the forts, and especially to the want of protection in Salsette against the Maráthás. There was no fort at Thána but only the three small towers commanding the creek, and containing three or four men each. Bassein had ninety pieces of artillery, the largest being twenty-four pounders, Chaul fifty-eight, and a fortified camp outside the walls nineteen more. The rock of Korlai opposite Chaul, which had been considered so great an acquisition, had thirty cannon, but many of them unserviceable. Asheri was in very bad condition, Manor not worthy to be called a fort. Thus though the military power and spirit of the Portuguese had in 1634 greatly degenerated from the days when Bassein was ready at any moment to send out an expedition against the king of Gujarát, or help to any of the smaller posts that might be attacked, yet in 1728 affairs were infinitely worse all over the district, and Sálsette notwithstanding its great value was quite indefensible. The recommendation to protect it by making a great place of arms at Thána was followed, but with too little vigour, for the fatal year 1739 arrived before the fort was finished.¹ - [Previous: c7.s8.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.fleet-1882.c7.s8.25) - [Next: c7.s8.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.fleet-1882.c7.s8.27) - [Up: c7.s8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.fleet-1882.c7.s8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.fleet-1882.c7.s8.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.fleet-1882.c7.s8.26) · Pramāṇa