‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1882-83.’ [‎72v] (153/498)

BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT.
[1882-83.
Chap. I.
POLITICAL-
90
Tributaky
States.
Main Kdntha.
Infanticide.
#
Boundary settle
ments.
Excise.
Public Works.
Education.
Exchange of viL
lages.
States under
management.
reform was made by dividing the state into 3 divisions, with a Mamlatdar over each, th
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). Karbliari was appointed a hirst class Magistrate, and the duties of the 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. were made less executive and more supervising. These changes were be
neficial, and & gave the establishment an opportunity to gain experience, so that the Maharaia
has found a trained staff of officials ready to hand. 2 Civil Courts were also added to the
previous number, and police patels were appointed to all villages in 1875.
An infanticide establishment has been kept up for the supervision of the Marwadi Kajput
population. It is maintained by subscriptions received from the Maharaja, by a moiety of mohsuls
imposed on Chiefs, and by fines indicted for infringement of the rules. _ In twelve years the
receipts amounted to Ps. 20,700 and the expenditure to Its. 15,400. Of this, Its. 7,100 were paid
to parents to assist them in defraying the expenses of their daughters’ marriages, and the balance
was paid for charges of the establishment. The results show that in twelve years 977 children
were born : 491 were boys and 486 girls. The deaths, on the other hand, of children under one
year of age have been 84 boys to 124 girls. In the past six years, however, 48 male children
have diedmnd 52 female children, which affords good ground for believing that the practice of
female infanticide has now died out.
No less than 51 external and 210 internal boundaries have been laid down and demarcated
during the attachment. This will be a permanent mark of great benefit effected under British
management.
In connection with the excise on salt, a preventive line was established on the frontier to
exclude Marwar salt, and in consideration the state was compensated by a payment of Bs. 1,600
per rmn mTi for loss of transit duty, and was allowed to receive 31,000 maunds of salt at a no
minal rate of one anna per maund. Subsequently, however, arrangements were made regarding
the Marwar salt, which made it unnecessary to maintain the preventive line, and in conse
quence the privilege of getting salt at a nominal rate has also lapsed. The state has also
agreed to suppress the cultivation of the poppy and to prevent smuggling. In return it receives
opium duty-free, and makes a profit by its sale. It has not been found practicable or expedient
to abolish the transit duties upon which the state puts a high value irrespective of the income
of about Bs. 30,000 which is received from them.
About Bs. 76,000 were spent on public works, including Bs. 29,000 on the bund across the
Hathmati Biver in connection with the canal project. The first bund was unfortunately swept
away by a flood, and a large amount of money was wasted. The remaining expenditure was
chiefly on repairs to tanks and dharmshalas. 350 masonry and 1,000 kacha wells have been
sunk by the rayats on favourable terms as regards revenue, and the town of Tclar has been
lighted, and its roads regularly watered.
Considerable progress has been effected in education to which little attention had previ
ously been paid. Now there are 23 boys’ and 2 girls’ schools under inspection, and several fine
buildings have been erected. All the more important villages possess a school, but cultivators
rarely avail themselves of the advantages offered, and no success has been met with in any
attempts to induce Bhils to send their children to school. They laughingly say their sons must
learn to drive cattle and use the bow.
The I'dar Grovernment has been finally induced to cede its rights in the villages of Morapa,
Harsol Grambhirpur, Umedni-muadi, Grulabni-muada, Sultanpur and Punsei, in exchange for the
cession', by the British Government, of the villages of Gabut, Yaniad, Bayar and Choila. This
has been 'brought about through the good sense of the young Maharaja, and the agreement
was signed in November, 1881.
The Maharaja of Tdar was installed on the 7th July, 1882, amid festivities which lasted for
some days. In commemoration of the event he is constructing a building for a library and
clock-tower in the chief street of his capital. A new Divan has been appointed, and there appears
to be more energy in the administration than formerly. Dipsingji of Malpur has also attained
his majority, and has been put in charge of his taluka. His state is much involved in conse
quence of his father’s extravagance ; and unless a settlement is made, there is little chance of the
debts being paid for many years to come. The Thakor of Mohanpur has died, and the suc
cession falls to his son, a boy of six years of age. This state is also involved to the extent of
Bs. 30 000. The Thakor of Ghodasanhas also died. He was a good ruler, and much respected by
all. His son has been sent to the Bajkumar College to complete his education. An attachment
for three years has been placed on the Amliyara Taluka on account of the misconduct of the
young thakor.
There has been a marked improvement this year in the behaviour of the hill Bhils, more
especially so in those of Pol. The settlement of the Mahi Kantha giras vanta claims against the
Baroda State has been conducted by a special settlement officer, who disposed of 1,086 of these
claims.
2 estates were released from attachment and 5 others brought under management,
making a total of 16. The officers in charge have been directed to prepare annual budgets,
which have been found useful in affording a clear idea of what has been done in the past, am
can be effected in the future. The estate of Ilol was in debt to the extent of three M ars
revenue which has been paid off, and it is about to be released with a year’s revenue in ban
besides a considerable expenditure on useful public works.