History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.320

v2.c41.320

There is no doubt about the fact that the Chiefs of Mayurbhañj had finally submitted to the suzerainty of the Marathas, because we find in a report submitted by the late Commissioner of Katak from Katak on the 20th December that Mayurbhañja paid a *Peshkash* or quitrent of Rs. 6000 per annum plus 10/16th of the capitation tax levied over pilgrims at Khuntaghat. We have seen before this that Dāmodar Bhañja was already on the throne of Mayurbhañja and referred to in the *Calendar* as the Chief of Mayurbhañja. There appear to be numerous references to the affairs of Orissa in records subsequent to 1775 and in other places than the Imperial Record Office, such as the Collectorates of Midnapur, Balasore, Burdwan and Ranchi and in the office of the Superintendent of Orissa Feudatory States at Sambalpur. In the proceedings of the Provincial Council of Revenue at Burdwan there are some very early records regarding Orissa. The zamindar of Bamanhati was a feudatory of the Chief of Mayurbhañja. T. Sidney Smith, Officer Commanding at Haldeapur, reported to the Chief of Medinipur that as the Zamindari of Bamanhati was obstructing the supply of provision he sent a Jamādār, a Havildār, a Nāik and nineteen Sepoys who captured him but were compelled to let him go. (Letter dated Haldeapur, 20th May, 1774). On this the Medinipur Council resolved to write to the chief of Mayurbhañja to direct the Bamanhati zamindar to supply provision to the troops stationed at Haldeapur (26th May, 1774). In a letter received from one Udainarayan, Nāib of Medinipur, on the 17th June there is a reference to Rājā Dāmodar Bhañja who is said to have sent his Wakīl Gobar Dunya Putnaik (Gobardhan Paṭṭanāyak) with a letter requesting that he may be given the revenue farm (Ijārādārī) of Beloorichor and the possession of the forts of Carpore (Khānpur) and Umirda (Āmardah), but as the president was absent one Chunoo Ghose and zamindars of the parganah represented that Rājā Dāmodar Bhañja was formerly the Ijārādār of this parganah, but he lost it during the chiefship of Mr. Baber in Amli 1178, 1771 A.D., on account of disturbances raised by him in the payment of revenue. The Rājā’s Wakīl said that the forts of Khanpur and Amardah have no connection with Beloorichor but are included in Balasore. His opponents replied that the duties were collected at Belloorichor. The Nāib informed finally that he had requested Rājā Dāmodar Bhañja to send a trusted man with papers in support of his claim. At this time Jagannāth Dhol of Dholbhum was opposed to the English East India Company and in open rebellion. In a letter written by Alexandar Higginson, chief of Medinipur, to Warren Hastings it is reported that the zamindar of Ghatsila appointed by the British, Baikaṇṭha Dhol, possessed about one-fourth of Dholbhum, the rest being in the possession of the rebel Jagannāth Dhol, the difficulties of the country making it impossible for the English East India Company at that time to crush him.