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Lot Essay
A fine early view of Bombay from Mazagaon, an outlying suburb and fashionable place to live in the late-18th century. British and affluent Indians, such as Wadias, built bungalows and plantation houses here. For similar prospects, see James Wales's Twelve views of the island of Bombay and its vicinity taken in the years 1791 and 1792, London, 1800, pls 7 and 8.
Bombay (from the Portuguese Francis Almeida's Bom Bahia) was taken by the Portuguese in 1508 and ceded to Charles II as part of Catherine of Braganza's dowry in 1661. The Crown leased it to the British East India Company in 1668, who proceeded to found the modern city. Bombay was originally made up of seven small islands: Bombay, fortified by Bombay Castle and Fort St George, the British fortress built around the old castle (Casa da Orta), Parel, Mazagaon, Mahim, Colaba, Worli, and Old Woman's Hill (also known as Little Colaba). The 18th century saw a large migration of skilled workers, including the shipbuilding Wadias from Surat, artisans from Gudjerat, and Kamathis from Andra Pradesh to this booming port, a safe haven from the mainland. The first land laws were set up, segregating the British part of the islands from 'black town' [van der Steen's 'Dungeree']. Land reclamation connecting the islands began in the 18th century and the seven islands were finally consolidated into one landmass in 1882.
Bombay (from the Portuguese Francis Almeida's Bom Bahia) was taken by the Portuguese in 1508 and ceded to Charles II as part of Catherine of Braganza's dowry in 1661. The Crown leased it to the British East India Company in 1668, who proceeded to found the modern city. Bombay was originally made up of seven small islands: Bombay, fortified by Bombay Castle and Fort St George, the British fortress built around the old castle (Casa da Orta), Parel, Mazagaon, Mahim, Colaba, Worli, and Old Woman's Hill (also known as Little Colaba). The 18th century saw a large migration of skilled workers, including the shipbuilding Wadias from Surat, artisans from Gudjerat, and Kamathis from Andra Pradesh to this booming port, a safe haven from the mainland. The first land laws were set up, segregating the British part of the islands from 'black town' [van der Steen's 'Dungeree']. Land reclamation connecting the islands began in the 18th century and the seven islands were finally consolidated into one landmass in 1882.