Indian Antiquary Vol 02

SR No.: 032494
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 428
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 315

OCTOBER, 1873.]
DABHOL.
281
and, her father's consent having been obtained for Dabul, and putting all this together it seems the pilgrimage, she set out from Bijápur with a scarcely possible that the mosque could have retinue of 20,000 horse under the command of the
been built at this time. king's private minister, Bahirá Khákán, a native
The figures given in the account are also of Mekkah. The princess and her party, having crossed the Western Gháts, arrived at Dabhol,
apparently quite mythical. It is scarcely crewbich was at that time one of the principal ports
dible that the mosque could in those days have of the Konkan and held by a Subadár of the
cost fifteen lakhs, and it is certain that 20,000 Bijapur Government named Ibrahim Khan, who cavalry would have eaten up the whole Konkan bore the title of Vezir ul Mulk. The princess in in a week. tended to have embarked here on her voyage to I am not aware whether there is a Persian Mekkah. While here, however, the news of many inscription on the mosque or not. I think not, piracies committed on the coast reached her, and
but it is said that the sanads and other docuafter much consideration it was deemed unsafe for
ments referring to the Musalman villages on her to proceed. So the pilgrimage was given up,
this coast are chiefly among the records of the and it only remained for the princess to determino in what manner she should spend the money she
Habshi at Jinjira, so it is possible that a search had brought with her for her expedition. The
there may settle this question. It is at all events Maulavis and Qázis, who were,summoned to adviso certain that the mosque cannot have been built her, suggested the building of a masjid at Dábhol later than 1660, nor earlier than 1508, as if it for the glory of Islám, and to this she consented. had been before that time it would certainly The work was then undertaken, and completed in have been destroyed by the zealous Roman four years. The name of the builder was Kamel Catholics under Almeida. Khán, and the cost of the building was fifteen lakhs.
In the names of two small pargans in this It is currently reported that the dome was richly
neighbourhood, one on each side of the creek, gilded, and that the crescent was of pure gold. The
we find further traces of the Musalman power. gold and the gilt have long since disappeared, but much of the beautiful carving and tracery remaing.
They are called Haveli Ahmadabad and Haveli Eight villages-Bhopan, Sirol, Vísapur, Bhosté,
Jafarabad, and I believe that the term Haveli Shaveli, Mundhar, Bhudavle, and Pangári-were
signifies that they belonged to a city which was granted in indm for the maintenance of the mas. the capital of a kingdom or government. It is jid. The grants were resumed on the overthrow probable that the villages forming these parof the Bijápur kingdom by Sivaji. The masjid still gaņas were attached to Dabul for the maintebears the name of its founder, the Má Çkheba, but
nance of the Government establishments, just it is no longer used for worship. Nothing is ever
as in 1756 eleven villages on the Bankog creek done for its maintenance or repair, and it is ten
were ceded to our government for the support anted solely by pigeons and bats.* The Musalmans of Dábhol are too poor to afford the cost of its
of Fort Victoria. No villages or towns called preservation, and thus what is probably the only
Ahmadâbâd or Jafarâbâd exist in this neighfine specimen of Muhammadan architecture in the
bourhood, that I ever heard of. The traditions Konkan will crumble away year by year till nothing of the mosque already mentioned as standing at is left but a heap of ruins.t"
the top of a high hill in the neighbourhood, and The date A.H. 1070 corresponds to A.D. 1659. known by the name of Bâlâ Pir (from the Ara60. Mahmúd Adil Shâh had died in 1656, bio bala, a hill) are vague and rather commonwhich would not of course make it impossible place. The mosque is a small one, divided into that his daughter should in that year have visit- two compartments, in one of which are the tombs ed Dabul and built the mosque. But between 1 of the Pîr, his wife and son. He is said to 1656 and 1660 Aurangzib and Sivaji were in have been named Abdul Qadr, and to have lived alliance against the young king of Bijâpur, and from 250 to 300 years ago. The mosque or it seems scarcely possible that the kingdom could tomb has a cash allowance from Government of have at that time afforded either the 15 lakhs or Rs. 25-8 a year, and up to fifteen or twenty years the cavalry force for a mere sentimental expe- ago it used to receive from every field in the dition and building at Dåbul. Besides this, it village of Wanosî a pdyali of grain. The inhabwas just about this time that Sivaji plundereditants, however, appear now to have grown too
• The minarets are in a tottering condition, the mortar having long since crumbled away, and the stonos becoming in bonsequence loosened are falling out of their placpe.
+ See NOTE on next page.ED.