Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 2 (2nd edition).pdf/70

 BANGALORE

6o

DISTRICT.

columns 35 feet long. Potter’s clay is utilized by the native workmen, and various kinds of kaolinitic clay exist, specimens of which have been favourably reported upon in England. The prevailing soil is the red or kempu, a loam of great fertility, varying in colour from a light red to a deep chocolate the darker sorts are supposed to be caused by the

down

weathering

of the

The decomposed

trap rocks.

the saulu earth, grey, sandy, and sterile

Low

soils,

and the

gneiss gives

kaolinitic clays.

The demand

jungle abounds in most parts of the District.

for

by the railway, and the increasing consumption at Bangalore town, have led to the formation of large wood plantations. State forests cover an area of about 32 square miles. Avenues have been

fuel

created

planted along

all the public roads, and ornamental trees have recently been introduced into the station of Bangalore, with most picturesque results. Wild animals are not so abundant as in the mountainous tracts bordered by the Western Ghats.

History

.

—The

now known

tract

as Bangalore

of Kankanhalli

Hwen

Buddhist pilgrim,

The

tury A.D.

generally

is

identified

as

The

little

town

Konkanapura of the

the

Thsang, who traversed India

earliest local

has often

District

figured prominently in the annals of Southern India.

in the 7th cen-

legends are associated with the ruins of

Nandagiidi and Maliir; but authentic history begins with the Ganga dynasty, who are said to have ruled over a great part of Southern

At least two commencement of the Christian era. known to have fixed their residence at Malru or Muganda-patna. The Gangas were succeeded in about 900 a.d. by the Cholas, who were shortly afterwards overthrown in their turn by the India after the

sovereigns of this line are

Baikal dynasty.

Vira Ballala, who reigned 1191 to 1211 a d ., is the traditional founder of Bangalore town. The Ballal dynasty was destro)’ed by the.

Muhammadans

1364; and amid the general disorder, a family of known as the Morasu Wokkalu, established themselves as feudatories of the Vijayanagar kings. The chief of the family bore the name of Gauda. His capital was at Magadi, with Savandriig as a stronghold in time of danger. The next conqueror to appear on 'I'elugu

in

immigrants,

the Maratha Shahji, the father of Sivaji the Great.

the scene

is

received

Bangalore and Kolar, with other neighbouring

jdgir or feudal grant from the

made Bangalore

his residence,

Muhammadan and

his

He had

tracts, as a

prince of Bijapur.

He

government extended over the

whole of Karnatic Bijapur.’ Like his more illustrious son, Shdhji found his opportunity in playing off against one another the rival Musalman kingdoms of Delhi, Bijapur, and Ahmadnagar, by which means he was enabled to establish his independence in the remote and ‘

fertile Principality

of Tanjore.

was disputed between

his

On

his death, in 1664, the inheritance

two sons,

Sivaji

and Venkoji or Ekoji; but