Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/20

3 Damajee had three wives, and he had a male issue by each. His first wife had one son Govind Rao, but his eldest son, Sayajee Rao, as well as Futteh Singh, were born of his second wife; and a dispute arose between Govind Rao and Sayajee Rao respecting the succession. The latter was of a feeble character; but his brother, Futteh Singh, who was an able and energetic man, managed by payment of a large Nuzzerana to obtain the sanction of the Peshwa's Government to the installation of Sayajee Rao, while he himself acted as Regent. To strengthen his own position Futteh Singh made overtures and sought an alliance with the British Government in 1772 A.D. but they were rejected. The rupture, however, which subsequently took place, between the court of Poona and the British Government, was the occasion for an offensive and defensive treaty with Futteh Singh, concluded by General Goddard on the 20th January 1780 A.D. This treaty was, however, virtually annulled on the conclusion of a peace between the British and the Poona Governments in 1782 A.D. Futteh Singh Gaekwar died of a fall from the upper story of his palace on 31st December 1789 A.D. Govind Rao was at the time at Poona, and Manajee, the younger son (by another wife) of Damajee, assumed the regency which he held till his own death in 1793 A.D. The succession of Govind Rao then followed, and in 1800 A.D. the Peshwa leased his share of the revenues of Gujrath to the Gaekwar. In the September of that year, Govind Rao died, and his elder son, Anund Rao, was acknowledged as his successor. He was of weak intellect, and the control of the State was usurped by his illegitimate half-brother, Kanajee Rao. The usurper, however, was soon deposed by a party headed by Raojee Appajee, the minister of Govind Rao. But the cause of Kanajee was espoused by Mulhar Rao (a cousin of Govind Rao) whose father had been a supporter of Govind Rao in his struggle with Futteh Singh, and who was dissatisfied with the treatment he had received from Govind Rao after the accession of the latter to power.

Thus beset, Raojee Appajee resolved to extricate his master and himself once for all from the troubles thickening around them, and overtures were made to the Bombay Government to subsidize five battalions of sepoys, if Mulhar Rao were reduced and Anund Rao saved from the domination of his Arab soldiery whose demand for payment of arrears was of the most menacing kind while their fidelity was more than doubtful. The requisite assistance was given by the Bombay Government; Mulhar Rao was subdued, and sent a prisoner to Bombay, Kanajee was transported to Madras, the Arabs were effectually curbed, and money was borrowed on British guarantee for the payment of the troops whose numbers were reduced.

In the year 1815 A.D. the Baroda Government deputed an agent, Gangadhar Shastree, to Poona, under the guarantee of the British Government for his safety, to settle certain accounts and disputes concerning the Kattiawar tribute, and to obtain a renewal of the lease of the Ahmedabad farm. Gangadhar Shastree was treacherously murdered by Trimbuckjee Denglia, minister and favourite of Bajeerao Peshwa. This circumstance severed the connection that subsisted between the Gaekwar and the Peshwa, who was the head of the Mahratta confederacy. The Peshwa, in consequence of this outrage, was made to subscribe to a Treaty on the 13th June 1817 A.D. wherein he was made to renounce all future claims against the Gaekwar and to compromise past claims for an annual sum of four lacs of Rupees, from the payment of which, however, the Gaekwar was released on the overthrow of the Peshwa. As a result of this arrangement, a new treaty was concluded on the 6th of November 1817 A. D., with Futteh Singh, the Regent, on behalf of Anund Rao Gaekwar, the chief provisions of which