History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c44.18

v2.c44.18

After gaining possession of Orissa, the British officers immediately made arrangements for the permanent administration of the country because they knew that it would not be restored in any case. Immediately after the conquest Colonel Harcourt and Mr. Melville C. S. were appointed “Commissioners for settling the affairs of Cuttack.” Rājā Mukunda Deva II espoused the cause of the British as soon as the conquering army entered Orissa. He had hopes of obtaining the parganahs of Lembai, Rahang, etc., which the Marathas had compelled his ancestors to cede.⁴ The Commissioners in charge of the civil administration, with the usual rapacity of Englishmen in India in the 18th Century, refused to do so. In September 1804, they accused the Rājā of an intrigue in connection with the temple of Jagannātha at Puri, and Mukunda Deva II was forbidden to issue any orders to any person residing within the limits of the Mughalbandi. A month after the issue of this order Khurda troops raided a village near Pipli. The British officers suspected that the Rājā was in league with the Marathas and called for troops from Ganjam. The Rājā’s people retreated to the fort of Khurda, which was besieged, and were followed by British troops. It was taken after three weeks and Mukunda Deva II succeeded in escaping. But he surrendered after a few days, his State was confiscated and he was carried a prisoner to Katak and then removed to Medinipur. After his release in 1807 he was permitted to come to Puri and live in his palace at Balishāhī as the Superintendent of the temple of Jagannātha. He received Rs. 2,133-5-4 as Mālikānā allowance from his former State. The British made arrangement with all Garhjat chiefs for their submission in writing, except from Mayurbhañj, immediately after occupying the country. In the first instance, treaty engagements were entered into with lowland chiefs and those Garhjat states which were near the hills. Lieutenant-Colonel Harcourt and Mr. J. Melville as Commissioners for the Ṣūbah of Orissa entered into the first treaty with the Rājā of Kanika on the 22nd November 1803. By this treaty Rājā Balabhadra Bhañja (i) promised submission and loyalty to the East India Company.