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OCTOBER, 1874.]
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE TOWN OF GOGHÅ.
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many of the inhabitants were slaughtered. Dun- garji was succeeded by Vijoji, Vijoji by Kanji, and Kanji by his brother Ramji Goghari, who, however, after a few yearg' tenure of power, resigned the gádí to his nephew SArangji. Sarangji was a minor when his father died, and his paternal uncle Ramji was regent on his behalf. The Ahmadabad tribute being in arrears, an army came from that capital to collect it and enforce its payment. Ramji gave Sarangji as a hostage for the amount of tribute due, and reigned without care for Sarangji, who remained in the hands of the Muhammadans. A potter of Kolikk, near Gogha, named Pâncho, determined to rescue Sårangji, and, entering into & secret correspondence with him, contrived to conceal him in his donkey's panniers, and afterwards transferring him to Biwi Partapgar's charge conveyed him to Påwågadh,t where his uncle by marriage, Rawal Patâi, reigned. It was agreed between Sarangji and Rawal Patai that if Sarangji recovered his throne he should assume the title of Rawal, and Sarangji marched upon Umråla, the old Gohel capital, together with an army furnished him by the Rawal. Ramji Goghåri, hearing of Sarangji's arrival, solicited the aid of the Gohel Chiefs of Gariadhâr and Låthi, and promised to grant them each twelve villages on condition of their assistance. At first these chieftains assented, bat finally, feeling that Sarangji was the right- ful heir, they proceeded to Umrâlâ and presented the patás to Sarangji. Sårangji confirmed the grants, and the Chiefs joined him with their forces. On hearing of their junction with Sarangji, Râmji, seeing that resistance was hopeless, made submission to Sarangji, and said, “ While you were young I guarded your interests, but now that you are of fit age ascend the gadi : I will be content with what you may allot me." Sarangji then granted him the tapa of Agiâli, and granted to the Gariâdhar and Lathi Chiefs the tapás of Trapaj and Walukar respectively. Skrangji was succeeded by his son Shivdas, Shivdas by Jetaji, Jetäji by Ramdasji, Râmdásji by Satoji, and Satoji by Visoji, who acquired Sihor and removed thither the Gohel capital After the conquest of Gujarât by Akbar, Gogh became an imperial port, though the Gohels of Sihor still held certain rights there. There is an inscription in the Khảri Wây at Gogha,
. This story of the potter is also in Ras Mau.-J.w.w.
which, though in some parts illegible, shows that Visoji was a contemporary of Akbar. The inscription is as follows :
॥ संवत १६३४ वर्षे कार्तिकशुदी २ रवी पातशा श्री ५ अकवर विजय राज्ये हवाली राज्यश्री कल्याणराय श्रीलला राजा विसाजी आर आखं घायंतीनी वाव्यपूती बाडी छे स्पोहा हाँहु तथा जशल कोमर मझामति थइ-तेहनी गधीउिपलि.॥
Samvat 1634, Kartik Shudi 2nd, Sunday, in the glorious reign of Padishah Sri Akbar, Rajesri Kalianrai being in charge of the port) ...... in the reign of Visoji... ... ... the way of Ghâyanti in the Pati Garden ......... and Jesal Komar ............
This inscription finishes with the gadhá gal.
Gogha became an imperial port, it is said, in the following way :- When Muhammad Toghlak conquered Gogha and Piram, Harishankar IŚwarji, the ancestor of the Gogh Desais, came from Unå with a body of men to the assistance of the Emperor, and from his local knowledge made himself exceedingly useful. The Emperor accordingly conferred on him a desdigiri allowance, also some fields and other rights in the then flourishing port of Gandi. Gandi was shortly afterwards closed, owing to the silting up of the creek, and Goghê was made a dependency of Khambhat, and large vessels destined for Khambhat were wont to unload at Gogha, whence their cargo was sent in small craft to Khambhât. In aftertimes the Nawabs of Khambhât acquired power in Gogha, but were gradually onsted by the Desais, whether by means of the Gohels 'or the Peshwa. When the Gundi port was closed, and when Goghâ rose into notice, these rights were transferred to Goghå; and the Desáis contriving, with much ability, to keep on good terms both with the Goghári Gohels and the Ahmadabad Sultâns, managed always to increase their rights, and eventually established a right to sukhri over the villages subordinate to Goghà. When Akbar conquered Gujarat, Desai Somji, perceiving the strength of the imperial power, persuaded the Gohel chieftain to offer Goghå as a nazardnd. For this he (Somji) was rewarded by a grant of some villages and an increased allowance, while he was allowed rights in all the harbours of Gohelwar. Desåi Somji, having no sons, repaired the temple of the Nilkantha Mahadev at Hathab, which village was the port of Gundi,
The Ras Mala mays Dangarpur.-J. W.W.
