Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/56

38 very tangible assistance to the British Government. He died in 1858 A.D. and was succeeded by his son, Nawab Bahawal Khan IV, who died in 1866 A.D. after a very short rule.

His son, Nawab Sadiq Mahommed Khan IV, being only four years old, a British Agency was established during his minority, for the administration of the State.

In 1879 A.D. Nawab Sadiq Mahommed Khan IV was invested with full powers of a Ruling Chief. He rendered important services in the Kabul War of 1879 A.D, in recognition of which, he was created G. C. S. I. on the 25th of January 1882, A.D. Nawab Sir Sadiq Mahommed Khan, after a very peaceful rule of about twenty years, died on the 14th February 1899 A.D. His eldest son, who was then 16 years of age and studying in the Chief's College at Lahore, came to the masnad as Nawab Mahommed Bahawal Khan V. He was invested with full powers by Lord Curzon in 1903 A.D., and in the same year, the State was added to the Phulkhian States Agency. During the short period of his reign, the late Nawab Mahommed Bahawal Khan V showed that he was an energetic and capable ruler; and his early death at Aden in February 1907 A.D., while returning from his pilgrimage to Mecca, was a heavy loss to the State. He was succeeded by his infant son, Nawab Sadiq Mahommed Khan V, who was born in 1904 A.D.

The administration of the State during the minority is being carried on by a Council of Regency, at present consisting of Haji Maulavi Rahim Baksh C.I.E. as President, and Diwan Asa Nand, General Mahommed Abdul Rahman, and Khan Bahadur Mirza Sultan Ahmedkhan. as Members.

The Imperial Service forces of the State consist, at present, of 169 cavalry and a camel transport corps of 344 men and 1,144 camels.

The total area of the State is 17,825 square miles, with a population 7,20,877 according to the Census of 1901 A.D., and a revenue of about Rs.34,00,000.

The Nawab of Bahawalpur ranks second among the Chiefs of the Punjab. He is entitled to a salute of 19 guns.


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