Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/201

 Cambay.

CAMBAY (Khambhaf) is a feudatory State* in the Political Agency of Kaira situated at the head of the Gulf of the same name. Mirza Jafar alias Momin Khan I, a member of the court of the Shah of Persia, came to Gujrath in 1720A.D. The viceroy of Gujrath at the time was Mubariz-uUMulk. He conferred the title of "Nizam-ud' Daulah" on Mirza Jafar and appointed him Ijardar of Petlad. He formed a matrimonial alliance with Mirza Abdul Husain Dehlami Momin Khan, the Agent for Cambay and Surat. On Momin Khan's death in 1742 A.D. his son, Muftakhir, succeeded him. He compassed the death of his brother-in'law, Nizam Khan, the Subha of Cambay, and usurped the office to himself.

Muftakhir Khan, though a heartless tyrant, was a shrewd and far-seeing ruler. Emperor Shah Alam II conferred the titles of Nizam^ud'Daula, Mumtaz^ul-Mulk, Dilawar Jung, and Nawab of Cambay on Fatteh Ali Khan, grandson of Muftakhir.

During the 1 3th, 14th, and 15th centuries, Cambay had a very flourishing maritime trade. At the close of the thirteenth century it was one of the two chief ports of Western India. The Dutch and the English established their factories there in the seventeenth century; but the diversion of trade to Surat and the silting of the mouth of the gulf dealt a severe blow to Cambay's importance, and by 1802 A.D. its maritime trade had dwindled down to a very low ebb.

Cambay knew very little rest and peace on account of the constant inroads of the Peshwa's generals and the officers of the Gaekwar. Since its transference of allegiance to the British in 1818 A.D. there has been peace and quiet for the State.

Nawab Fatteh Ali Khan died in 1 823 A.D. and was succeeded by his brother Bande Ali Khan. He too died without issue in 1841 A.D. and his nephew Hussain Yavar Khan was put on the masnad. In 1862 A.D. the Nawab of Cambay received the sanad authorising him and his successors the right of adoption without the payment of any nazarana to the Paramount Power. Hussain Yavar Khan died in 1880 A.D. and was succeeded by his eldest son, Jafar Ali Khan, the present Nawab. During the period between 1882 and 1890 A.D. there were serious disturbances in the State. His Highness Jafar Ali Khan, who is of a retiring nature, applied to the British Government for assistance. A special European Political officer and a few well'selected subordinates were deputed. They put the administration on a firm basis and the State was handed back to the Nawab in 1894 A.D. Ever since the administration has been carried on by the Nawab with the help of a Diwan, who is given, to him by the Paramount Power.

The area of the State is 350 square miles having a population of 75,225 souls; and its average annual revenue is rupees 5 lacs.

The Nawab of Cambay exercises full jurisdiction within his State, but cannot try British subjects for capital offences without the Political Agent's permission. He is entitled to a salute of 11 guns.