The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s9.223

c7.s9.223

While the South Konkan forts had thus been falling into our hands one by one, Captain T. Dickenson, of the Engineers, had been examining those in the North Konkan ceded to us in the previous year. The chief of these was of course Bassein, but that fortress formerly so much coveted was now found to be "an acquisition of no military importance." Its circumference was upwards of a mile and a half, but it had "fundamental weaknesses in the too great distance between the main defences and the absence of any ditch or parapet of greater pretensions than a breastwork, while the ramparts were in many places overgrown with jungle, and there was scarcely a public building habitable." Arnála was the next in importance of the coast forts, and Tárápur the next, both from its better state of repair and its central position; being about 500 feet in length and breadth, with walls about ten feet thick and, including the parapet, thirty feet high. There were eight other forts on the coast between the Vaitarna and the Daman frontier, and these were generally in rather better condition than those inland, but of little use from their small size, being chiefly kept up as a security against pirates and to command creeks. Of inland forts there were sixteen, mostly insulated and in the middle of the jungle, and there were four which might be called Ghát forts. The gateways of all were said to be the best part, but "it is hardly possible to conceive a more neglected state than the forts generally are in. It would seem that for the last twenty years not the labour of a single person or the expenditure of a rupee has been sanctioned by the Peshwa's government either upon the works themselves or the interior buildings. Even the water in many places has been allowed to become unfit for use." Asheri Malangad and Máhuli Captain Dickenson considered impregnable, but owing to its isolated position useless under our Government, and of the whole he said that "the most insignificant is adequate against a siege by a native enemy, but the best in their present state untenable perhaps for any length of time against Europeans."¹ In the end it was decided that the coast forts should not then be destroyed, as the inhabitants might have a feeling of insecurity without them, and they mostly remain untouched except by natural decay to the present time. Of the inland forts the interior parts were destroyed as far as possible, but the outer works being left, the hills have scarcely lost in picturesqueness. Bassein Arnála and Tárápur, and the Ghát fortresses of Gorakgad Kotligad and Siddhagad held small detachments of soldiers for a short time,² but all have now for many years past been abandoned to solitude.