90 WESTERN H I N D O O S T A N. 



this coall:, was the ui urped property of the Portugiieje ; but the 

 greateft part of this extremity was wrefted from them by the 

 Mahrattas ; a few places they retained for fume time, but at 

 length all fell under the power of the new uiurpers. Among 



Bassein. the places was Bajfein, which had been taken by Nugns cfA- 



cag-ria, viceroy of India, in I555» and by him ftrongly fortified. 

 It w^as in our days feized by the Mabrattas, and again, in 1780, 

 by the EngJi/J:>, under General Goddard, who reflored it to its 

 late makers by the treaty of 1782. 



Doctor. Fryer^ who vilited this city about the year 1670, 

 when it was in polfeffion of the Portuguefe, fpeaks of it as a 

 very coniiderable place, having fix churches, four convents, a 

 college of Jefuits, and another of Francifcans, 



VisRABUY. About twenty miles from Bajffein, inland, is Vtfrabuy, fa- 



mous for its hot wells, which are in high efteem for their 

 medicinal virtues, and accounted, by the HindooSy of great 

 fan6lity. 



Isle of Sal- The principal ifle is that of Saljette, which is divided from 



JETTE. ^.^g continent by a very narrow channel ; it is about fifteen 



miles in circumference, and rich in fruits and vegetables. 

 General Goddard included this ifiand in his other conquefts. It 

 was wifely retained on the conclufion of the peace, and con- 

 firmed to us by the laft peace, together with fome little ifles or 

 rocks that lay within the important bay. Salfette was gallantly 

 defended by an old man of ninety-two, who, being fummoned 

 to furrender, anfwered, " He was not fent for that purpofe." 

 It was not till he was flain in a bloody affault that the place 

 was taken, but at the price of four hundred of ourgrena- 

 9 diers. 



