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Introduction
xiit
2 . The philological derivation of the word Gujarāt is still a matter of controversy.* It may, however, geographically be said to occupy the north-east corner of the Western India. 'But for historical purposes it is necessary to define it in greater detail. Following the two great authorities on the history of Gujarāt The Bombay Gazeteer Vol. 1 (hereafter referred to as the B G.) and the Rásamālā we may define its boundaries more exactly as follows : To the North of Gujarat is Mārwād; to the north - east Ābu and other outliers of Aravali range. The east is guarded and limited by rough forest land rugged in the north with wide spurs of the Vindhyas, more open towards the central natural highway from Baroda to Kutlam, and southwards again rising and roughening into the northern off – shoots from the main range of the Sātpuļās. The southern limit is uncertain. History somewhat doubtfully places it at the Tāpti. Language carries Gujarata about a hundred miles further to Balsār and Pārời where forest - covered hills from the north end of the Sahyadri range stretch west almost to the sea. The Gulf of Cambay and the Arabian Sea wash its southern and south-western shores. The Gulf of Cutch and a salt and sometimes innundated desert called the Raņa are the boundaries to the west and north - west.'
"The least protected part of this frontier line, and that by which Gujarăta has usually been invaded," says the author of the Rásamālā, " is on the north - west,
* See the section on the Gurjaras. See also Divetia's The Gujarati Language and Literature. pp. 34 35.
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