The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s9.271

c7.s9.271

In 1801 a permanent settlement was offered to the then holders of land in Sálsette, with a decennial settlement of commutation rates, but it was accepted by only four individuals,¹ although sanads had been prepared and printed at an expense of several thousand rupees.² In 1807 the grain assessment had risen to 8320 mudás, but apparently with less land under cultivation. At the end of the previous century large estates had been granted to a few British subjects in Sálsette with a view to the improvement of the country, and several of the present (so-called) khots of Sálsette derive their rights from these original grantees. Between 1798 and 1803 the Sion causeway was built,³ which was undoubtedly the greatest possible benefit to Sálsette, and in the last-mentioned year the customs duties which had been hitherto levied on all goods passing between the two islands were abolished.² Thus it will be seen that the Bombay Government of those times were not so much indifferent to the welfare of the territory they had gained as ignorant of the greatness of the abuses which the Maráthás had allowed, and slow in removing them.