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36 a recent acquisition from the Nizam-Shahi State and where the authority of the new Government sat loose.

A body of Maratha horsemen under Abaji Sondev raided the rich towns of Kalian* and Bhiundy, which were then without walls, and thence they carried off much wealth and costly merchandise. The fort of Mahuli, which had once belonged to Shahji, was next seized. The city of Kalian, with some other parts of the Thana district, thus passed into Shiva's possession, and he got a firm footing in Northern Konkan, which he rapidly improved in the course of the year. His progress southwards into the Kolaba district seems to have been assisted by the petty local chiefs who were eager to throw off Muslim yoke and wrote inviting him to come. (Chit. 34, 35 and 41; Dig.; T. S. 13a.) Surgarh (8 miles east), Birwadi (5 miles west), Tala (10 miles south), Ghosalgarh (5 m. s. w.), Bhurap or Sudhagarh, 15 miles east of Roha town, Kangori 12 miles east of Mahad, and above all the impregnable fortress of Rairi (Raigarh) which was to be his future capital, all passed into his hands, and thus the Abyssinians of Janjira lost the eastern half of the Kolaba district to him. At Birwadi and Lingana (5 miles east of Raigarh) he built strong forts.