Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/21

Rh were an increase of the subsidiary force for the payment of which all the rights the Gaekwar had acquired by the farm of the Peshwa's territories in Gujrath were to be ceded to the British Government; the consolidation of the territories of the British Government and the .Gaekwar in Gujrath by "the exchange of certain districts; the co-operation of the Gaekwar's troops with those of the British Government in time of war; engagement by the Gaekwar to maintain a contingent of 3,000 horse at the disposal of the British Government; and the mutual surrender of criminals.

Anund Rao Gaekwar died on the 2nd of October 1819 A.D. and was succeeded by his younger brother Sayajee Rao, who entered into a convention with the British Government in 1820 A.D., whereby he agreed not to send any troops into Kattiawar and Mahee Kanta, and to make no demands of tribute from his feudatories, except through the medium of the British Government who undertook to procure payment of the same free of expense to the Gaekwar without any trouble to him.

Sayajee Rao Gaekwar on more than one occasion disregarded the treaty rights with the British Government by withholding payment of the guaranteed debts and committing several unfriendly acts against them; and, as a consequence, some of his districts were sequestrated from him as a temporary measure; but the matters in dispute were at length satisfactorily adjusted. Sayajee Rao died on the 19th of December 1847 A.D. and was succeeded by his eldest son Gunput Rao, who died without male issue on November 19, 1856 A.D. He was succeeded by his brother Khunde Rao. During the Mutiny of 1857^58 Khunde Rao Gaekwar rendered signal service to the British Government, and as a reward for the same, the payment of three lacs of rupees per annum for which the Gaekwar Government was liable to maintain a body of cavalry, known as the Gujrath Irregular Horse, was remitted. In addition to this recognition of the Gaekwar's good services he was created by the British Government a Knight Grand Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India in 1862 A.D.

Khunde Rao died on the 28th of November 1870 A.D., leaving no lineal successor though the next heir to the Gadi, under the circumstances, was his younger brother, Mulhar Rao, who had been a state prisoner at Padra in Baroda territory since 1 863 A.D. on account of a suspicion of a conspiracy to bring about the death of his brother Khunde Rao by poison or other means. On the death of Khunde Rao, Mulhar Rao was, formerly installed as successor on the Gadi, on the understanding that if Jumnabaee, the widow of Kharrde Rao who was enciente at the time of her husband's death, were delivered of ,a son, that child should be recognised as Gaekwar. The posthumous child was, however, a female and Mulhar Rao continued to be the ruler. But his rule was such that within three years of his installation the British Government was obliged to appoint a Commission to, inquire into the charge of maladministration, preferred against him by numerous complainants through the British Resident, Colonel Phayre C. B. On a careful consideration of the report submitted by the Commission, the Government of India decided to give the Gaekwar a term of seventeen months to effect certain reforms specially mentioned in the report as imminently required.

Before the expiration of this period, however, an attempt to poison the Resident, Colonel Phayre, was discovered in November 1874 A.D. The enquiries that were instituted warranted the conclusion that the attempt was instigated by Mulhar Rao, and he was suspended from the functions of Ruler on the 14th of January 1875 A.D. The charges against him were investigated by a High Commission, consisting of three