THE JETHWAS AT PORBANDAR old importance. Since the sixteenth century they ha< been settled at Chhaya, which stands on a creek not fa from Porbandar. They had sunk to a very low ebb 01 account of their being unable to resist the Jade] as, whc had despoiled them of most of their territories and hac continually oppressed them. Close by was situated Por bandar, a Mahomedan port of fair prosperity, toward which the Ranas of Chhaya had long cast longing eyes It is mentioned in the Puranas as the ancient city o Sudama Puri, where we are told that Krishna changec the place from a small village into a city of gold on behal of his old companion Sudama. Whatever be its origin Sudama Puri was a holy and ancient place, which in course of time became known as Puri. To this was afterwards added the suffix " bandar/5 signifying it was a harbour and the word Porbandar became thus formed. It was during the reign of Rana Sultanji, betweer A.D. 1671 and 1699, that a small Jethwa fort was unpre- tentiously built in Porbandar, and in subsequent years the happenings in more important parts of the Gujarat dominions left the Moghal authorities little time foi determining every petty encroachment, or indeed foi noticing it. Accordingly the Ranas found nothing to hinder them in establishing authority at Porbandar and in towns around it, and in about A.D. 1718 Rana Khimoji claimed Porbandar as his own, continuing, however, to live in his strong fortress at Chhaya. In A.D. 1722 the Marathas, under Kantaji Kadam Bande and Pilaji Gaekwad, made their first foray into Saurashtra. Unfortunately for themselves, they selected the strong fort of Sihor for attack, and though they made determined onslaughts, they were every time driven back, and finally desisted. The Gohels suffered much loss, and but for the bravery and determination of their chief, Bhavsinhji, they would doubtless have succumbed to the attacks of their hardy adversaries. It is Bhavsinhji who 123