Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/283

 Sachin.

THIS small State is situated under the Surat Political Agency in the Bombay Presidency. The Nawabs of Sachin are Sidi Mahomedans or Habshis. They were long known on the western coast as the Sidis of Danda-Rajpuri and Janjira. They were also the admirals of the fleets of the kings of Ahmednagar and Bijapur in the Deccan, while these dynasties lasted, and subsequently of the Mogul emperors, being appointed to that office by Aurangzeb about 1660 A.D. with an annual assignment of three lacs of Rupees out of the Surat revenues for their maintenance. On the decline of the Mogul empire, the Sidis became notorious pirates, plundering the ships of all nations except those of the British, whose friendship they appear to have early cultivated.

The branch of the family, who had its headquarters at Janjira, remained chiefs of that place during the wars between Shiwaji and the Moguls, and between the Mahrattas and the British Government. During these wars different members of the family were alternately supported by either party as best suited its own interest. Towards the end of the eighteenth century, Balumia Sidi, the heir to the throne of Janjira, was expelled from his dominion by a younger branch of the family. He appealed for aid to the Mahrattas and the British. The Peshwa being desirous of obtaining Janjira, an agreement was come to in 1791 A.D., by which Balumia ceded Janjira in exchange for Sachin to the Peshwa. Balumia duly took possession of his new State of Sachin; but when the Peshwa claimed Janjira, the Sidis who held it refused to give it up, and succeeded in maintaining their independence. Sachin remained in the hands of Balumia and his descendants ; while Janjira is still held by the younger branch of the family who had ousted Balumia.

Balumia, the founder of the Sachin State fixed his capital at Sachin ; but he afterwards passed the remainder of his life at Lajpur, another village in the territory situated on the river Midhola. Balumia was succeeded by his son, Ibrahim Mahammad Yakut Khan, who died in 1873 A.D. After his death, his son, Nawab Abdul Kadar , Khan, ascended the gadi, but had to abdicate it in favour of his minor son, Ibrahim Khan, who was only three years of age, in 1889 A.D.

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The present Nawab Ibrahim Khan was educated at the Rajkumar College at Rajkot and Mayo College at Ajmer. He joined the Imperial Cadet Corps in 1894 A.D. and remained there till 1906 A.D. He was put in charge of his State on 4th May 1907 A.D. He married Fatima Sultanah Jahan Begum, the only daughter of his uncle, Nawab Jada Nasurullah Khan, in the year 1906 A.D. and has a son one year old.

The area of the State is 42 square miles, the population being 20,530. The gross revenue amounts to over two lacs of rupees.

His Highness Nawab Ibrahim Khan is entitled to a salute of 9 guns.