'The Church and River at Mahim, Bombay'. One of a series of Views in India and in the vicinity of Bombay. Lithographed by G.E. Madeley after Major Pouget. Published in London, c.1850/ 1863, Jan. 25th.— Tiger at Mahim, near railway station. Two natives killed by it. Shot.

 Posted on: 25 December 2010

The Church and River at Mahim, Bombay'. One of a series of Views in India and in the vicinity of Bombay. Lithographed by G.E. Madeley after Major Pouget. Published in London - 1850

Lithographed by George Edward Madeley (fl.1829-1856) after an original drawing by Major Robert Pouget of 'The Church and River at Mahim, Bombay' one of a series of 'Views in India and in the vicinity of Bombay' published in London c.1850. The area of Bombay was orignally made up of seven islands including Mahim, situated to the north. Mahim became a centre of power in the 13th century, when Raja Bhimdev located his capital Mahikawati and the Prabhadevi temple on the island. In the following century, the Muslim kingdom of Gujarat was also established at Mahim, where they built a fort and a number of mosques. In the 16th century, the area of Bombay was ceded to the Portuguese, who established their capital at Bassein further north. In 1661, the area passed to the English as part of the dowry brought to Charles II by the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza. Although the British continued to use the fort, their main headquarters were situated on Bombay Island. In 1845, Mahim was connected to the mainland by a causeway that was financed by Lady Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy.

Source : British Library

Lithographed by George Edward Madeley (fl.1829-1856) after an original drawing by Major Robert Pouget of 'The Church and River at Mahim, Bombay' one of a series of 'Views in India and in the vicinity of Bombay' published in London c.1850. The area of Bombay was orignally made up of seven islands including Mahim, situated to the north. Mahim became a centre of power in the 13th century, when Raja Bhimdev located his capital Mahikawati and the Prabhadevi temple on the island. In the following century, the Muslim kingdom of Gujarat was also established at Mahim, where they built a fort and a number of mosques. In the 16th century, the area of Bombay was ceded to the Portuguese, who established their capital at Bassein further north. In 1661, the area passed to the English as part of the dowry brought to Charles II by the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza. Although the British continued to use the fort, their main headquarters were situated on Bombay Island. In 1845, Mahim was connected to the mainland by a causeway that was financed by Lady Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy.
[THE RIVER- NOW CALLED 'MITHI' RIVER, IS NO MORE THAN A NARROW CANAL, DUE TO LAND GRAB AND DUMPING OF POLLUTANTS]

THE WILD BEASTS OF BOMBAY. /TIGER AT MAHIM,HYENA AT BYCULLA,TIGER AT ESPLANADE,TIGER AT MAZGAON,HYENA AT MALABAR HILL,TIGER AT GOWALIA TANK

MALABAR HILL FOREST

THE WILD BEASTS OF BOMBAY.

1783. — The Governor and most of the gentlemen of Bombay
go annually on a party of pleasure to Salsette" to hunt the wild
boar and royal tiger, both of which we found here in great
plenty. — Hector Macneill.

1806, December 17th. — Two gentlemen at 7 a.m. riding
towards the bungalows of General Macpherson on the Island of
Salsette, near the village of Coorla, two tigers came out of the
jungle as if ready to spring, crouched, and were observed to
betake themselves to the jungles and hills of Powee, fifty yards
in front of the horses.

And in this connection two persons on November 4th
were carried off by two tigers from a native village nearly
opposite to Powee, near the high road leading from Sion to
Tanna. The natives believe the tigers are human beings, and
have gold rings in their ears and noses.

One native's body they had sucked all the blood out of it,
otherwise not eaten. They took away a herdsman driving
his fl^ck.

1819, — There were in all only three deaths recorded in
India of Europeans from snake-bites in the years 1817, 1818
and 1819.

1820, December 23rd. — A large lion killed within eight coss
from Ahmedabad.

1822, February 9th. — A tiger on Malabar Hill came down,
quenched his thirst at Gowalla Tank, and ran off over the hill
between the Hermitage and Prospect Lodge. Prints of its feet
were distinctly visible this morning.

1828. — At Colaba Ferry a huge shark was observed in
proximity to some bathers.

1830, January 13th. — A large hyena is prowling about
Malabar Hill on the western side between Mr. Nicol's residence
and Vaucluse, " as good sport as a Mazagon tiger." — Bombay
Gazette.

1839, June 25th. — Lieutenant Montague, at Colaba, returning
from mess, put his foot in a hole, received a slight wound which
in twenty-five minutes carried him off. Some jurors thought it
was from the bite of a serpent.

1841, September 15 th. — A man bitten by a snake on the
Esplanade.

1849. — A finback whale driven on shore at Colaba, 60 feet
long, 30 to 40 feet round the thickest part. All along the road
from the Fort to Colaba was a perfect fair. . The stench was felt
from the town side of the causeway from where it lay at the
back of Colaba Church. Jawbone taken away. — Gentleman s
Gazette.

1850, Oct. 9th. — A tiger at Bandoop leaped upon the mail-
cart and upset it, and the gliarry-wallah was little injured. I
saw jackals several times in the gardens of the Colaba Observa-
tory in 1844. — Dr. Buist. On tins Mr. Charles Chambers, F.K.S.,
observes (1893) : " I found a jackal in my bedroom in the
Colaba Observatory about fifteen years ago."

A jackal was killed in the new High Court Buildings shortly
after they were finished.

1858, March 3rd.— Some officers of the P. and 0. steamer
Aden observed a tirjer swimming from Mainland to Mazagon.

A boat was lowered and the crew armed with ship's muskets.
When they came up to it the brute was boarding a buggalow,
and was being kept off by the lascars by handspikes. It was
shot through the head by six balls. Weight, 353 lbs. Length
to tip of tail, 8 ft. 9 ins.

1858, May 26th. — A young Portuguese this day shot a tiger
at Mahim, and on the 27th inst. brought the carcass to the
Chief Magistrate for the reward,

1859. — To-day Mr. Forjett with a fowling-piece shot a tiger
within a few hundred yards of the fashionable drive on the
Esplanade, and on the beach of Back Bay near Sonapore. Mr.
Forjett promised the hide to Dr. Birdwood for the Museum.
—Bombay Gazette.

Feb. 6th. — On this day, Sunday evening, the wife of Mr.
Pratt, uncovenanted assistant in the General Department Secre-
tariat, walking along with her husband in the fields adjoining
their residence at Mahim, trod on a snake and died two hours
afterwards. — Bombay Gazette.

Feb. 15th. — ■A tiger was seen sloping about the nooks of
Kalpadavie, but disappeared.

Nov. 12th. — Dr. Turner, P. and 0. service, at his residence,
Chinchpoogly, was bitten by a venomous snake on the calf of
the leg. His leg swelled to an immense size. A friend of his
made an incision, sucked the wound, and he is now recovering.

Kov. 16th. — A cobra, 4 ft. in length, killed in Secretariat
compound, Apollo Street.

1860, Oct. 31st. — On Sunday a snake was seen amusing
itself round one of the pillars in St. John's Church, Colaba, a
few yards from the reading-desk, and not long ago a cobra was
found in the organ. — Times and Standard.

Dec. 5 th. — A hyena shot while devouring a bullock not far
from the Byculla Club House.

1861, Nov. 26th. — Hyenas quite common at night, prowling
about the Byculla Flats.

1863, Jan. 25th.— Tiger at Mahim, near railway station.
Two natives killed by it. Shot.