Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/223

 Janjira.

THIS State' is. situated on the western .coast of India. It derives its name from the Arabic * jazirah' an island, because an Abyssinian in the service of the Kings* of Ahmednagar managed to secretly land a body of 300 armed men on the Island situated at the rjtouth of the river Rajapuri, take possession of it, and fix it as his place of residence arid, centre of operations of conquest.

Janjira originally formed part of the dominions of the Nizam-Shahi kings of Ahmednagar,- which was taken by the Moguls in 1600 A.D., and though the great Malik Ambar soon after -recovered most of the territory belonging to his king, local records seem to show that the governors of Janjira were Mogul officers, till 1618A.D. In -that year an" Abyssinian^ named Sidi Sirul Khan was appointed governor of Janjira by the King of Ahmednagar. In 1620 A.D. he was succeeded by Sidi Yakut Khan, and in the following year, by Sidi- Ambar who Was known as Sanak to distinguish him from the great Malik Ambar who ruled at Ahmednagar till his death in 1626 A.D. Sidi Ambar Sanak established his independence and became the founder of the present dynasty whose' kings are called Nawabs, a title which was conferred upon them by the Emperor Aurangzeb. Sidi Ambar Sanak reigned lill his death in 1642 A.D. and was followed ,by .sixteen rulers of whom the most powerful were Sidi Khairiyat and Sidi Yakub. During their reigns- .they considerably increased the -extent of their territory by theif bravery and courage.

The. I^ahrattasf and the Peshwas were constantly at war with the Sidi chiefs of Janjira„ anpl 'for .more than a Century they tried to deprive them of their possessions, but the latter were able to maintain their position in the. struggle. However, about the year 1776 A.D. one Sheikhji, who was then the chief subhedar of Janjira, treacherously entered into a secret treaty with the Peshwa, and not only joined him with a large army but managed to gain over to his side some of the other subhedars in the Janjira Fort. This weakened the power of the Sidi Chief to a great extent and eventualfy compelled, him to enter into a treaty with the Peshwa, by which he had to surrender to him five of his mahals viz: Tala Nizampur, Ghosala, Birwadi, Goregaum, and half the tappa c-f GoiL

A treaty of alliance was concluded between the State and the British Government in 1 833 A.D. It was made with the Hon'ble Mr,. . Robert Cowan, President and Governor for the Honourable East India Company.

Sidi Mahamad Khan, the grandfather of the present Nawab, after having ruled peaceably for twenty^two years, abdicated the throne in favour of his son Sidi 4 Ibrahim Khan in 1848 A.D. A few years after the accession of Sidi Ibrahim Khan quarrels arose between him and the Sidi Sirdars of Janjira. The Governor of Bombay, finding that there was disorder everywhere in the State, asked the Chief, in 1867 A.D., to establish an independent court to try serious offences. In 1869 A.D. owing to several complaints, the Nawab was deprived of his criminal powers, and a British Resident was appointed to exercise them, leaving only civil powers in the hands of the Nawab, In 1870 A.D. the Sidi Sirdars taking advantage of the Nawab's absence