Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/101

 Dungarpur.

THE founder of this family was Mahas, son of Karan and grandson of Samarsi of Mewar, who was driven from Chitore by his brother-in-law, the Chief of Jhalor, and who, rather than fight, established himself in the hills south of Udaipur, thus forming a separate division of the Aharea sept, the younger one being thence- forward termed the Sesodia family. The Dungarpur chronicle says that he voluntarily gave up Chitore to his younger brother, at the wish of his father Karansi, and retired to Delhi about the end of the twelfth century, where the Emperor received him with distinction. On Sibardi, the ninth in descent, was conferred the sovereignty of Bagor, on condition of his wresting the country from a troglodyte named Chosuan Mai, who was committing great enormities. This person was conquered in 1248, and Bagor became independent with Baroda, near the present Dungarpur, as its chief town. Sibardi, its Rawal, moved the capital to Gulliakot; and his son, Gir Singh, by a stratagem, slew Dungar, a noted Bhil, with his followers, when they were stupefied with drink, seized his lands, and founded Dungarpur.

Udai' Singh, the ninth prince in descent from the last-named Rawal, was killed in a battle; and, when dying, divided his country, giving that west of the river Myhe to his eldest son, Prithi Raj, and that to the east to his younger son. Jug Mai, thus forming the two States of Dungarpur and Banswara.

Jaswant Singh, the twelfth from Prithiraj, who was incompetent and addicted to the lowest vices, was dethroned by the British Government, and banished to Brindaban, where, before his death, he adopted Dalpat Singh, the second son of the Chief of Partabgarh. This Chief reigned for a short time at Dungarpur, and in 1884 A.D. succeeded at Partabgarh. He adopted Udai Singh, as his successor at Dungarpur. Udai Singh was followed by Khuman Singh who died in 1898 A.D. and was succeeded by his son, H. H. the Maharawal Bijai Singh, on the gadi of Dungarpur in the same year.

The State was tributary to Dhar in Malwa, which transferred its rights to the British Government. The State pays about Rs, 27,387 as. tribute. Its area is 1,447 square miles, its population 1,65,400, and the revenue Rs. 1,82,226.

Dungarpur stands on the side of a small lake about 18 miles from the British cantonment of Kherawara in the Mewar hill tracts. The State is chiefly inhabited by Bhils.

The present Chief of Dungarpur is His Highness Maharawal Bijai Singh Bahadur and is entitled to a salute of 15 guns.