Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/203

 Chhota-Udaipur.

CHHOTA'Udaipur is ranked among the second class states in Rewa-Kantha. The rulers of the State are Chawan Rajputs of the Kinchi sept; and the family is descended from Patai Rawal, the last chief of Champaner, whom the Musalman historians call Behi Rai. On the fall of Champaner and the death of its ruler on the battle-field in 1484 A.D., the members of the family dispersed in all directions.

Patai Rawal's grandsons, Prithi Raj and Dungar Singh, escaped to Hamph, a small hamlet, amongst the almost inaccessible hills of the Vindhya range. Both the brothers gradually extended their possessions and power. Within a few years they established their supremacy over the country between Rajpipla and Godhra. They partitioned the acquisition between themselves. Prithi Raj made Mohan his capital on account of its advantageous position and the neucleus of the principality of Chhota^Udaipur.

During the sixteenth century the territories of Chhota^Udaipur, according to Mahomedan chroniclers, comprised an area of about 5,000, square miles. In the eighteenth century Baji Rawal, one of the descendants of Patai Rawal, moved his seat of government from Mohan to a town, on the river Orsang, called Chhota'Udaipur, from which the State derives its name.

During the reign of Baji Rawal, the whole country was in an agitated condition ot. account of the gradual crumbling down of the Mogul power and the rise of the Mahrattas; Baji Rawal suffered heavily during this troublesome period. He lost a large portion of his territory and moreover the Gaekwar levied from the State a heavy tribute. For five generations the principality dragged on a weary existence under heavy exactions by the Mahrattas.

In the time of Prithi Raj II., the annual tribute payable to the Gaekwar was fixed in 1822 A.D. and the State taken under the protection of the British Crown. Prithi Raj died the same year and was succeeded by his cousin, Guman Singh, who died in 1851 A.D. without issue. He was, therefore, succeeded by his nephew, Jit Singh. During his time Tatya Topi, the leader of the insurgents of the Mutiny of 1857 A.D., sacked Chhota^Udaipur. British troops soon came to the rescue, and the rebels were dispersed. He died in 1881 A.D. and was succeeded by his eldest son, Moti Singh, who died in 1895 A.D. His son, Fatteh Singh, a minor, was recognised as successor and the State was put in the charge of an administrator appointed by the Paramount Power.

The area of Chhota^Udaipur is 873 square miles, containing 504 villages and hamlets, and a population of 64,621 souls, the large decrease of about 31 per cent in that of the preceding census being ascribed to famine. The income of the State is nearly two lacs of Rupees per annum, out of which a tribute of Rs. 8,908 is paid to the Gaekwar through the British Government.

The Chief bears the title of "Maha Rawal" and is entitled to a salute of 9 guns.