PLACES

MHASLA

Mhasla (Mhasla Peta; 18° 05' N, 73° 05' E; p. 2,971; RS. Khopoli, 55 m. NE), lies at the head of the south branch of the Rajpuri creek about sixteen miles from the sea. The position of Mhasla, at the head of this great gulf, marks it as one of the early centres of trade, and suggests that it may be Ptolemy's (A. D. 150) Musopalli, the Metropalli, of the Pirate Coast [Bertius Ptolemy, X. The inland position of Musopalli in Ptolemy may be explained by the distance, sixteen miles, between Mhasla and the coast.]. The only noticeable building is a new mosque. The remains of the old mosque show signs of having been built from the stones of a Hindu temple, which, according to local accounts, was dedicated to Mahesvar. The stones of the entrance steps are dressed like Hindu temple stones and have still faint traces of Hindu images. In the mosque are two large wooden pillars engraved in Hindu fashion, and the stones in the kabha or prayer niche seem to have been the side-posts of a Hindu temple door. The mosque has been greatly renovated recently. There are traces, of old walls in the Musalman burying-ground, and to the north of the mosque a field pays a yearly fee to the mosque priest or mulla, which the village records show was in former times paid to provide oil for the temple lamp-pillar. The trade of the town is poor. A cart road has been constructed to join this village to Govalvadi.

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