The Gazetteer Department SATARA DISTRICT GAZETTEER Gazetteers of the Bombay Presidency (Facsimile Reproduction) SATARA DISTRICT VOLUME XIX Originally Printed in 1985 Reprinted in 1989 e-BOOK EDITION : 2006 Published By The Exective Editor and Secretary Gazetteer Department, Govt. of Maharashtra, Bombay Contents PREFACE I am happy to bring out this Facsimile Reproduction of the Satara District Gazetteer,which was first published in 1885 by the British Government in the series of Gazetteersof theBombay Presidency. The Volume was edited by Mr. James M. Campbell, I.C.S.This Gazetteer compiled 104 years ago has now become scarce and has gone out ofprint. The second revised edition of the Satara District Gazetteer was published by thisdepartment in 1963. However, the utility of the Gazetteer in the old Series is stillundiminished because it contains authentic and very useful information on severalaspects of life, and has the impress of profound scholarship and learning. It has not lostits utility due to the mere passage of time. It was, therefore, felt necessary to preservethis treasure of information for posterity. There is also a good demand from scholarsthat all the Old Gazetteers should be reprinted even though a better and muchinformative revised edition is available. With these considerations in view, it was thoughtthat the Gazetteer Volumes in the Old Series should be reprinted. I am sure, scholarsand studious persons will find it very useful. It may be pertinent to state that a totally rewritten Marathi edition of the SataraDistrict Gazetteer is being brought out by us. I am thankful to the Director, Government Printing and Stationery, Shri B. B.Bracken and the Manager, Government Photozinco Press, Pune, Shri P. L. Purkar andother staff in the Press for expeditiously completing the work of reprinting. BOMBAY K. K. CHAUDHARI 14th April, 1989. Executive Editor andSecretary. Contents Prologue I am very glad to bring out the e-Book Edition (CD version) of the Satara District Gazetteer. This CD version is a part of a scheme of preparing compact discs or earlier published District Gazetteers. The Satara District Gazetteer was first published in 1884 by the British Government in the series of Gazetteers of the Bombay Presidency. The volume was edited by Mr.James M, Campbell. I.C.S. It contains authentic and useful information on several aspects of the district and is considered to be of great value to administrators, scholars and general readers. The revised edition of it was compiled and published in 1963. But the old gazetteer published during the British regime contained much valuable information, which was not reproduced in the revised edition. Therefore, the department decided to reprint this volume. Accordingly Satara District Gazetteer (1885) was reprinted in 1989. Considering its utility, need was felt to preserve this treasure of knowledge. In this age of modernization, information and technology have become key words. To keep pace with the changing need of hour, I have decided to bring Satara CD. version of this edition. It is also made available on the website of the State Gobernment www.maharashtra.gov.in. I am sure, scholars and studious persons across the world will find this CD immensely beneficial. A totally rewritten Marathi edition of the Satara District Gazetteer was published by us 1999. I am thankful to the Honourable Minister, Shri. Ashokrao Chavan (Industries and Mines, Cultural Affairs and Protocol), and the Minister of State, Shri. Rana Jagjitsinh Patil (Agriculture, Industries and Cultural Affairs), Shri. Bhushan Gagrani (Secretary. Cultural Affairs), Government of Maharashtra for being a constant source of inspiration. Place: Mumbai DR. ARUNCHANDRA S. PATHAK Date :26th January, 2007 Executive Editor and Secretary Contents Preface I am happy to bring out this Facsimile Reproduction of the Satara District Gazetteer,which was first published in 1885 by the British Government in the series of Gazetteersof the Bombay Presidency. The Volume was edited by Mr. James M. Campbell, I.C.S.This Gazetteer compiled 104 years ago has now become scarce and has gone out ofprint. The second revised edition of the Satara District Gazetteer was published by thisdepartment in 1963. However, the utility of the Gazetteer in the old Series is stillundiminished because it contains authentic and very useful information on severalaspects of life, and has the impress of profound scholarship and learning. It has not lostits utility due to the mere passage of time. It was, therefore, felt necessary to preservethis treasure of information for posterity. There is also a good demand from scholarsthat all the Old Gazetteers should be reprinted even though a better and muchinformative revised edition is available. With these considerations in view, it was thoughtthat the Gazetteer Volumes in the Old Series should be reprinted. I am sure, scholarsand studious persons will find it very useful. It may be pertinent to state that a totally rewritten Marathi edition of the SataraDistrict Gazetteer is being brought out by us. I am thankful to the Director, Government Printing and Stationery, Shri B. B.Bracken and the Manager, Government Photozinco Press, Pune, Shri P. L. Purkar andother staff in the Press for expeditiously completing the work of reprinting. BOMBAY K. K. CHAUDHARI 14th April, 1989. Executive Editor andSecretary. Contents Original Preface THE names of contributors are given in the body of the book. Special acknowledgments are due to Mr. J. W. P. Muir-Mackenzie, C.S. whose valuable contributions form the bulk of the Volume. Much help was also received from Messrs. J. King, C. S. Collectors, H. R. Cooke, C.S., Surgeon-Major W. McConaghy, and the Deputy Collectors Rav Bahadur Balaji Gangadhar Sathe and Mr. E. T. Richardson. October 1884. JAMES M. CAMPBELL. Contents Contents PREFACE .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Prologue .............................................................................................................................................. 3 Preface ................................................................................................................................................ 4 Original Preface ................................................................................................................................... 5 MAP ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 APPENDIX ................................................................................................................................................ 8 Appendix A .......................................................................................................................................... 8 BOTANY. .......................................................................................................................................... 8 Appendix B ........................................................................................................................................ 46 MAHABALESHVAR PLANTS. .............................................................................................................. 46 Appendix C ........................................................................................................................................ 58 CAMPS. .............................................................................................................................................. 58 Appendix D ........................................................................................................................................ 62 DASARA PROCESSION. ...................................................................................................................... 62 DASARA PROCESSION. (p.565). ..................................................................................................... 62 Contents MAP Contents APPENDIX Appendix A BOTANY. THE following notes on the botany of the district are contributed by Major H. H.Lee, RE.: The Satara district affords an interesting field for the botanist, comprising as it does so great a variety of soil and climate. The plains and bare bills of the eastern districts may be readily exhausted but the observer will have his hands full when he approaches the Western Ghats crosses the Koyna valley, and traverses the boundary line between Satara and the Konkan. The grassy slopes of the Ghats teem with luxuriant growth in the latter part of September, when the heavy rains are over, and a visitor to Mahabaleshvar on a fine day at this season is well repaid by the varied colouring of the wild flowers. Later on in October and November the western spurs are brightened by the vivid yellows of Composites and the pink of strong-growing Balsams, whilst pretty Smithias and hosts of other species of the pea-tribe carpet the forest side. There are few better spots for botanising than the re-entering angle of the FitzGerald Pass below Elphinstone Cottage, early in November and even later. The traveller will admire too the pretty mauve balsams that grow out of his reach, clinging to the rock under the big waterfall higher up. The sheltered portions of the Koyna valley are well wooded and would be more so had kumri or wood ash cultivation never been allowed. No very large amount of useful timber is however to be found