 The islands came under the control of successive indigenous empires before being ceded to the Portuguese and subsequently to the British East India Company.During the mid-18th century, Bombay was reshaped by the British with large-scale civil engineering projects, and emerged as a significant trading town.Bombay was a native Fisherman Land of Marathi Speaking Kolis And Aagris grew into a leading commercial center of British India during the 19th century on the basis of textile mills and overseas trade.