1) To the best of my knowledge, Mormugao taluka was carved out of the Salcete taluka in December 1880.
2) Idalcao is a Portuguese corruption of Adil Khan. 3) As regards «Afonso de Albuquerque had nowhere to go except anchor his ships in the Bay of Aguada i.e. opposite modern Miramar, a ward of Panjim. It was the villagers of Taleigao who came to the rescue of Afonso de Albuquerque and his men, for they provided them with fresh provisions and water during the lean months of the monsoon», some reports say that Albuquerque's ships remained anchored near what is now Penha de Franca and not in the Bay of Aguada. As soon as it was safe to go again to the high seas, Albuquerque directed his fleet for repairs and replenishment of victuals and potable water to Anjediva island, from where in November he came back and conquered Ela (Old Goa), in which he was assisted by the Hindu sea captain Timoja (Thimaya). The report about the help given to the sailors by the villagers of Taleigao is true. For this gesture they were later rewarded with the privilege of that village being the first to have its rice ears solemnly blessed at the Cathedral at Old Goa and the villagers being then received by the Governor-General and the Archbishop. A war dance was performed on the occasion by the population of Taleigao outside the Idalcao Palace. Jorge ----- Original Message ----- From: Antonio Menezes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <goanet@goanet.org> Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 8:06 AM Subject: [Goanet]GOA - Tidbits of Geography etc. The Portuguese sailors who were the first people to develop modern navigational skills reached India ( Kozikhode/ Calicut in Kerala )on the 20th May, 1498 under the command of Vasco da Gama. For the next 12years, the Portuguese traded with India ( spices, precious stones etc) and were at the same time on the look out for a permanent safe harbour for their sailing ships, especially during the monsoon months June to September. On the 1st of March, 1510 Afonso de Albuquerque captured a small town called Ela (Old Goa ) which was a safe harbour and at least 10 kms away from the sea coast. Ela was a port frequented by Arab and Persian dhows which brought fine horses for the Deccan warlords. Within months Adil Shah the ruler of the Bijapur Kingdom to whom Ela belonged struck back and threw Afonso de Albuquerque and his men back in to their sailing ships. Being the begining of the monsoon season Afonso de Albuquerque had nowhere to go except anchor his ships in the Bay of Aguada i.e. opposite modern Miramar, a ward of Panjim. It was the villagers of Taleigao who came to the rescue of Afonso de Albuquerque and his men, for they provided them with fresh provisions and water during the lean months of the monsoon. Come Oct/Nov 1510 Afonso de Albuquerque has to make a decision . He either leaves the area in search of another harbour somewhere along the west coast or he goes back to Ela, which he ultimately did. This memorable decision of Albuquerque truly marks the beginning of the history of Goa as it is known today. Let us face it. Had Albuquerque gone away, todays Goa would have, most probably, been not much different from say, Ratnagiri or Mangalore. On the 25th November 1510 Albuquerque attacks Ela ( Old Goa ) once again and this time it is for keeps for the next 450 years. Surrounding areas are gradually conquered and the whole island of Tiswadi along with islands of Divar, Chorao, Jua and Kumbharjua now form part of the Portuguese empire in the east. In 1543 i.e. 33 years after Albuquerque entered Old Goa , Bardez and Salcete are annexed from Adil Shah empire. Salcete in those days included areas of the present day Mormugao taluka. To the best of my knowledge Mormugao became a separate taluka sometime in the 19 th century. . For the next 250 years, after 1510 the Portuguese are happy with their posession - Ilhas, Bardez and Salcete. i.e. IBS region. During this period, Portugal becomes an economic power as a result of trade with the East, gradually decline sets in, Old Goa is abandoned because of plague. The capital is transferred to Panjim where in 1510 Adil Shah had a residence called Idalcao Palace., which till recently served as Legislative Assembly cum Secretariat. >From 1510 to 1660 i.e. a period of 150 years, the Portuguese missionaries converted the population of IBS region to Christianity and later somehow seem to have lost the zeal for conversions . It can be safely stated that religious intolerance was a thing of the past by 1660s In 1760 the Portuguese obtained from the Raja of Sonda ( North Canara ) the talukas of Ponda, Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona. In 1780s the Portuguese annexed Pernem, Bicholim and Satari talukas from the Bhonsles of Sawantwadi Goa consists of Ilhas , Bardez and Salcete i.e. IBS from 1510 to 1760 250 years Goa IBS region plus seven additional talukas from 1760 to 1960 200 years --------------------- The Portuguese stayed in Goa for -----------------------------------------------450 years. =========== Antonio