Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/260

Rh Resident of Baroda, arrived in Kathiawar in 1807 A.D. for the permanent settlement of the tribute, and in that connection visited Morvi. From this time dates the connection of Morvi with the British Government, which came in at the right juncture, since the State had come into a miserable plight owing to the continued raids of the Miyanas and the frequent attacks of Cutch and Jamnagar.

In 1820 A.D. the Kolis of Cutch and other Sindhi free-booters began to plunder the northern precincts of the Morvi State. The chief at once applied to the Political Agent, Kathiawar, who wrote to the Rao of Cutch to keep watch over the lawless marauders but he was not able to do so. The British Government posted a small party of armed men at Ghantila and the Rao of Cutch was compelled to pay Rs. 10,700 by way of compensation. Jiyoji died in 1829 A.D. and was succeeded by his son, Prithirajji, who carried on the administration of the State with economy and paid off a portion of the debt under which the State was groaning.

Prithirajji died in, 1846 A.D. His son, Rawaji, came to the gadi. It was in his time that Adhoni was placed under the management of the Cutch Agency. Rawaji was a wise and careful ruler. He established courts of justice in his territory and introduced several reforms in regard to revenue, agriculture, and commerce. By his judicious management all the debts were cleared off.

Rawaji died in 1870 A.D. leaving behind him two sons, Waghaji and Harbhamji, of whom the frist was only twelve years old and the second still younger. Both of them were sent to the Rajkumar College, Rajkot, and the State was placed under a joint administration supervised by the Political Agent, Kathiawar. After a stay of about seven years at the College, Waghaji went on a tour through India and on his return was associated with the Joint Administrator for about a year. He was put in sole charge of his State in 1879 A.D. and he has been, since then, managing the State with credit. He was the first Chief in Kathiawar to introduce electric power and the first to lay a railway line of his own, as also to connect the port of Wawania with the interior by a tramway both for goods and passengers.

In 1887 A.D. the Thakor Saheb was deputed with the Thakor Sahebs of Gondal and Limbdi by the Kathiawar chiefs to present their address to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen-Empress on the celebration of Her Majesty's Jubilee. On this occasion the State of Morvi was elevated to the rank of a first class State, and on his return to India, the Thakor Saheb was appointed K.C.I.E. In 1890 A.D. he was granted the sanad of adoption. In 1897 A.D. His Highness Sir Waghaji K.C.I.E. was appointed Grand Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire.

H. H. the Thakor Saheb Sir Waghaji is an enlightened ruler who has been silently but steadily working for the moral and material advancement of his subjects in various ways.

The area of the State is about 900 square miles with about a lac of population. The revenue of the State is in a normal year about 7£ lacs of Rupees.

H. H. Thakor Saheb Sir Waghaji K.C.I.E., G.C.I.E. is a first class Chief in Kathiawar and is entitled to a salute of 11 guns.