112 



much trouble to take it from the nabob in lTi'2; from which 

 time until 17B3 it remained in the Company's possession. 



The ancient history of Baroche is of little consequence, nor 

 can I trace its origin; it is with great reason supposed to have 

 been the Barygaza of Ptolemy. It formerly belonged to the Hin- 

 doos, but when the Mahomedans conquered Guzerat, and sub- 

 dued Ahmedabadj Cambay, and Surat, Baroche shared a similar 

 fate. From that period, until taken by the English, it was go- 

 verned by a nabob; first as a delegate from the Great Mogul, and 

 then by usurped authority as an independent prince: although 

 the Mahratta chieftains of Brodera compelled the nabobs at dif- 

 ferent limes to assign over six tenths of the Baroche revenue; which 

 were then paid by the Company to Futty Sihng, the chief of Bro- 

 dera: the whole revenue amounted to six lacs of rupees, upwards 

 of seven t} r -five thousand pounds. 



The houses in Baroche are built like those at Surat and Cam- 

 bay; the streets are generally narrow and dirty: the durbar, or 

 palace of the late nabob, occupies a large range of buildings, com- 

 manding a view of the river, and a rich country beyond the southern 

 banks. There were formerly several musjids at Baroche, especially 

 one, called by way of eminence the silver mosque, situated in the 

 centre of a large area containing several marble tombs, under a 

 handsome cupola; on the w r est side is the musjid, or house of 

 prayer; on the south, a small temple enclosed with a lattice, co- 

 vered with thin plates of silver, has obtained this dignified appel- 

 lation. There, under velvet canopies, are deposited the remains of 

 the former nabobs of Baroche; the last, after the loss of his capital, 

 fled to a distant country, and fell a sacrifice to his misfortunes. 



