‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1882-83.’ [‎72r] (152/498)

1882-83.]
RELATIONS WITH TRIBUTARY STATES AND FRONTIER AFFAIRS.
MAHI KA'NTHA.
89
Chap. I.
POLITICAL
Tributary
States.
Main Kdntha.
Area, 5,000 square miles; Population (1881), 517,485 ; Revenue about Rs. 7,50,000.
The Mahi Kantha (banks of the Mahi) District comprises a group of 59 states in the
north-east of the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. bordering on Mewar, the largest and most important of which
is Tdar, which covers more than half of the whole territory. 11 other states are of some
consequence, and the remainder are petty tracts belonging to Rajput or Koli thakors, once
unruly feudatories of the Baroda Barb dr, and now requiring the constant supervision of the
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. .
The earliest settlers were Bhils and Kolis who were subdued by the Rajputs driven
from Sind on the Musalman invasion. By intermarriage with the Kolis many of these Rajputs
lost caste, only keeping the names of their clans. In the fifteenth century the Rajputs fell
under the dominion of the Ahmadabad kings, and on their decline were absorbed by the Mo^hal
Empire, although tribute was rarely collected except by the display of an overpowering
force. The Marathas followed the Moghals, and every two or three years the Baroda Groverm
ment collected tribute by means of a military force; but losing strength in the beginning of
the present century it was arranged in 1811 that the British Government should collect
the tribute, and pay it over to the Gaikwar, thus freeing the Baroda Government from the
expense of maintaining a large force and freeing the province from the loss caused by its
periodical progresses. But on the Peshwa’s share of Gujarat falling to the British Govern
ment by right of conquest it became evident from the general lawlessness that some one power
should become responsible for the maintenance of order. As the Gaikwar’s Government
was unable to take this position, the management of the Mahi Kantha was, by an agreement
concluded in 1820, made over to the British Government; the latter undertaking to collect
and pay the tribute free of expense, and the former pledging itself not to send troops or in any
way to interfere with the districts.
From 1833 to 1836 there were local disturbances which had to be suppressed by force, and
in 1857-58 a display of force was again required, when measures were taken for registering
arms and disarming a part of the population, a smart action being fought at the Taringa Hill
and the town of Mondeti being carried by assault. In 1867 a partial disturbance at Posina
was soon put down, and since then the peace has been unbroken, except in the past year, when
the Bhils of Pol rose against their Chief and extorted an agreement from him.
The Chief of I Gar administers his own affairs, subject only to general supervision and advice.
In the other states the management of police and the administration of justice rest more or
less entirely with the Political Officers. The several Chiefs have been divided into 7 classes
according to their position and wealth, and are allowed to exercise the judicial powers which
have been fixed upon as appropriate to each class. Chiefs of the first class,—that is, Pdar alone,—*
have full civil and criminal powers, and the powers decrease by a graduated scale to the power
to imprison for one month, to fine up to Rs. 50, and to hear civil suits of less than Rs. 250 in
value, which is exercised by Chiefs of the lowest class. A few Chiefs have not been considered
of sufficient consequence to be entrusted with any powers; and in their states all matters are
referred to the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , who also exercises the residuary jurisdiction which is not
within the cognizance of the several Chiefs.
The largest state in this Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. is Pdar, which had been under British management I'dar.
from 1869 to 1882, when it was handed over to Maharaja Kesrisingji on his attaining his
majority. A slight sketch of the progress made in that period may be attempted. On the
death of the late Chief his debts were found to amount to Rs. 1,63,500, which have been fully
paid off with interest. But against the debt he held shares in the G. I. P. Railway Company, and
there were outstandings of revenue which have been gradually realized. If these two items
are set off against the debt, it may be said that the late Chief died free from incumbrances.
During British management the revenue has remained somewhat stationary, and has been
slightly exceeded by the expenditure ; but this is explained by heavy and exceptional charges
lor marriages and funeral ceremonies, the ambitious alliances with the Chiefs of Udepur and
wotah having consumed large sums of money. The minor Chief himself was married to
oalumbar, and for a long time was educated by a private tutor; but it was finally arranged
that he should be entered as a student at the Rajkumar College, where he remained two years,
to his great benefit.
The state villages have been surveyed and assessed; but the late assessments being con- Survey,
siuered too moderate, the Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). remonstrated against the loss of revenue, on which the Survey
department re-assessed the lands and raised the rates considerably. Its effect, however, has
een that land paying Rs. 12,500 has been thrown out of cultivation, and the Chief has found
1 necessary to reduce Colonel Anderson’s rates by one-third as a tentative measure,
Proposals have been matured, and are now before the Chiefs, to constitute 40 forest Forests,
reserves covering 54 square miles. The forests might be made valuable ; but the primitive
habitants resent any interference with their hereditary practices, and the measure must be
carefully introduced.
In 1879 the duties of the establishment were revised, by which, without increasing the Establishment.
C °tL ^| le ^ u ^ e8 were more sub-divided. Till then it had been the custom to concentrate work
Wl ™ le Assistant Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , and but little authority was given to any other official. A
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