Read Book Online : http://www.archive.org/stream/catalogueofcolle00victiala#page/n5/mode/2up

Download pdf Book : http://ia600200.us.archive.org/15/items/catalogueofcolle00victiala/catalogueofcolle00victiala.pdf

The area is to this day known as the Fort area of Bombay (Modern name Hutatma Chowk - a name that has had nothing to do with the British rule but relates to the modern history of the formation of the two states of Gujarath and Maharashtra from the erstwhile combined, bi or tri-lingual state of Bomay which also included parts of Birar (MP).

The building in view (from land and from the sea) must be the Old Customs House (which stands tall even today) alongside of the wall which stretches from it to the Lion Gate of the naval dockyard. The British Establishment in Bombaywas described as a "Vakhar" - a storehouse or a Traders' Depot for goods ooffloaded from ships or those waiting to be shipped. The trading rights were granted to the Portuguese by the Mughal Court which went as dowry to King Charles II along with the bride - Catherine of Braganza. Braganza is a commonly occuring surname among Goan Catholic Christians. There is a delightful biographical novel of Bombay written in Marathi by Gangadhar Gadgil - a doyen of Marathi literature. The novel runs into several hundred pages and is delightfully documented.

The novel mentioned above by Gangadhar Gadgil titled "Prarambh" is also translated in English and published by National book trust.

Its still known as flora fountain by south bombayities