A History of the Mahrattas v1.c7.17

v1.c7.17

The Mahratta language ¹ prevails throughout this great tract of country; but in a space so extensive, there are, of course, various dialects of it, with a mixture of other tongues towards the verge of the boundaries; and there is a small space about Surat, Baroach, and Rajpeeplee,² where the Guzerattee ³ is spoken, but which may be excluded, by an imaginary line drawn from Damaun to the middle of the Naundode ⁴ district, or western point of the Sautpoora range, whence this definition of Maharashtra commences. The whole tract comprehends a surface of upwards of 102,000 square miles, and its present population, estimated principally from the returns of the collectors in the territory, lately conquered by the British government, is about six millions, or at the average rate of fifty-nine souls to the square mile.