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
