History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c76.s1: § 1. The Land of Konkan : its features and divisions.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c76.s1
- Language
- English
§ 1. The Land of Konkan : its features and divisions.
v5.c76.s1.1
The Sahyadri range or Western Ghat, running parallel to the western coast of India, cuts off a long narrow strip of country from the Deccan plateau. Moving southwards from Surat along this tract, we have first the Surat Agency States of the present day, covering a wild broken and jungly country, the original home of the predatory Bhil and Koli tribes, —whence its Marathi name of *Kolvan* or the Koli country,—the two chief States here being Ramnagar (modern Dharampur) and Jawhar, the last of which is in the same latitude as Nasik across the Ghats. This Kolvan occupies only the inland or eastern portion of the long narrow strip, while the sea-coast was, in the late 17th century, covered by Portuguese possessions stretching from Daman (almost the same latitude as Chandor) downwards to Bassein (26 miles north of Bombay), and including many places which have now come to the British through the intervening Maratha conquerors.
v5.c76.s1.2
South of Kolvan begins Konkan proper, its northern part forming the modern Thana and Kolaba districts, from some distance north of Kalian Junction (opposite Junnar, on the tableland across the Ghats) to Mahad close to the southern frontier of the Kolaba district (near Mahabaleshwar). In other words, North Konkan is the coast tract parallel to the Puna and Nasik districts which lie east of the mountain chain. South Konkan is formed by the Ratnagiri district, which stretches parallel to the Satara and Kolhapur districts of the Deccan plateau, till the coast is broken near about Vingurla by the territory of the ancient Maratha family of Savants of Vadi (or Desais of Kudal, as they were popularly called in the 17th century) and, immediately south of it, the Portuguese province of Goa. Still further south begins Kanara, with the Karwar district along the coast, and the Sunda and Bednur States in the interior, far to the east, leading into the Mysore plateau.
v5.c76.s1.3
The strategic bearings of the different points in this coastal region should be carefully remembered if Maratha history is to be intelligently followed. North of Dharampur and east of Surat, the Western Ghats sink near the Khandesh city of Nandurbar*, before they run into the Satpura range stretching west to east at right angles to them. Through this natural gap, the Tapti river rushes down to meet the western ocean near Surat. A Maratha force which had advanced beyond Dharampur, could either sack Surat and Broach (37 miles north of Surat) by going due north; or easily enter northern Khandesh by swerving eastwards and marching through this gap, past the city of Nandurbar, and then make a wide sweep, raiding the whole of Khandesh and Berar and returning home southwards and westwards through the north Golkonda territory.
v5.c76.s1.4
∗ Sultanpur-Nandurbar was a most important military charge (faujdari) in the Mughal scheme of the defence of the empire, and was entrusted by Aurangzib only to the ablest officers. They have now lost their wealth and importance. Sultanpur is 30 miles north-east of Nandurbar (sometimes mis-spelt as Nazarbar).
v5.c76.s1.5
Again, from the nearest north-eastern corner of the Koli country, another but more difficult route led, through the Babhulna pass and skirting the forts of Salhir and Mulhir (in Baglana, or the broken country immediately east of the Ghats and north of the Chandor range), into West Khandesh, or turning south and crossing the Chandor range into the rich plains of the north Nasik district and further east to the neighbourhood of Aurangabad, the capital of Mughal Deccan, without having to overcome any natural obstacle on the way. Similarly, from Kalian in the heart of the Thana district (30 miles north-east of Bombay), an army can march north-east, cross the western range by the Tal Ghat, and thus enter the Nasik district through its south-western corner, or by marching due east enter the Puna district in its extreme north, near Junnar, by the Nanaghat pass. Southwards the Western Ghats along their entire length are pierced by numberless passes, more or less difficult, which shorten the journey from any part of the Konkan plain to places immediately east of them on the highlands across the mountain barrier.