Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/257

224 THE IMPERIAL DURBAR ALBUM. The area of the State is 3.389 square miles; its population is computed at 88.343 inhabitants, and its income at Rs. 3,50,000 per annum, of which Rs. 12,577 are paid in commutation of military service.

The Chief ranks as a first class Sirdar in the Southern Mahratta Country having power to try his own subjects for capital offences.

2. Junior Branch.

GANGADHAR Rao, the grandson of Harbhat, had two sons, Narayan Rao and Madhav Rao, of whom the latter acted as guardian to his nephew, Ganapat Rao, as has been already mentioned. On Ganapat Rao's attaining majority, he demanded his estate and the fort of Miraj. Madhav Rao tried his utmost to retain the fort to himself, but was compelled to hand it over to his nephew, since the Paramount Power once for all had decided the question. Ganapat Rao demanded accounts from Madhav Rao through the British Political officers. He evaded rendering them on one pretext or another and ultimately turned suddenly silent. In 1831 A.D. a part of his jahagir was sequestrated; this did not produce any effect, and in 1833 A.D. the whole of it was attached; in 1840 A.D. the British Government, with a view to affora relief, offered him a variety of alternative terms of which he took no notice. A full enquiry was made and the amount of debt payable was fixed at Rs. 1,70,798 by the British Political officer.

The jahagir, which had been attached in 1833 A.D., was offered to Lakshman Rao alias Annasaheb, the son of Madhav Rao, in 1848 A.D. on condition he accepted it together with the liability and undertook to pay off the debts in fifteen instalments. Lakshman Rao consented to the arrangement. Madhav Rao passed the remainder of his days in seclusion and died in 1859 A.D.

Annasaheb managed the Estate fairly well, and in course of time freed it of all debt. He earned the thanks of the British Government for his loyal conduct during the Mutiny- He has had several sons, of whom only Harihar Rao survived and succeeded him. After ruling only for the short space of three years he died in 1877 A.D. leaving a minor son, Lakshman Rao II, who, in due time, after completing his education, came in charge of- his Estate. He died in 1908 A.D. and has been succeeded by his son, Madhav Rao Babasaheb.

The estates of the third and fourth branch of Miraj lapsed to the Paramount Power in 1845 and 1842 A.D. respectively for want of heirs.

The area of the State is 211 square miles containing 35,500 inhabitants and yielding a revenue of Rs. 2,25,000 during an average year of which an annual contri^ bution of iRs. 6.412-8-0 is paid to the Paramount Power on account of military service.

The Chief of this branch is, in all respects, on the ■ same footing as the Senior one in point of power, authority and adoption.