A History of the Mahrattas v2.c50: Chapter XLII

A History of the Mahrattas v2.c50

Language: English

Chapter XLII

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(A.D. 1793.)—THE reader may recollect that Govind Rao Gaekwar assumed charge of the Baroda government in December 1793, and also that Aba Shelookur, the deputy-governor of the Peishwa’s share of Guzerat, was one of the principal persons who accompanied Nana Furnuwees to Sindia’s camp, the day on which that minister was treacherously seized by Michael Filoze.

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(A.D. 1798.)—Aba Shelookur gave Doulut Rao Sindia a bond for ten lacks of rupees as the price of his liberty, and for permission to return to Guzerat, where on his arrival he immediately assumed charge of the government at Ahmedabad. Being one of the partisans of Nana, Govind Rao Gaekwar was secretly incited against him by Bajee Rao, and Shelookur, being pressed for the payment of his ransom, levied more than his own proportion of revenue, and exacted money from some of Gaekwar’s villages. Hostilities soon followed, and for a time Aba Shelookur was successful in the war of plunder and extortion which he pursued against the subjects of Govind Rao.

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(A.D. 1799.)—In 1799 the Nabob of Surat died, and the year following, during the prevalence of the disturbances to which we have now alluded, Mr. Jonathan Duncan, Governor of Bombay, proceeded to Surat, commissioned by the Governor-General to assume charge of the government of that city, granting to the Nabob’s brother, who was the heir apparent to the naib-ship, an annual pension, on condition of his resigning all pretensions to the exercise of authority.¹ Mr. Duncan was at the same time directed to endeavour to obtain the Gaekwar’s share of the Chouth of Surat without reference to the negotiations with the Peishwa for his portion of it. Two wukeels having been sent by Govind Rao to congratulate Mr. Duncan on his arrival, the latter conceived the opportunity favourable for making the application in question, to which he added a request that Chourassy, the district immediately surrounding Surat, might be added to the grant. Govind Rao readily promised to bestow both the one and the other on the East India Company, without requiring any condition on their part, merely observing that it was incumbent on the Company to obtain the Peishwa’s sanction to the measure, which, had the Peishwa been able to maintain his authority independent of the English, would have been tantamount to a refusal; both because the Poona court was particularly anxious to perpetuate the Mahratta claims on Surat, owing to an extravagant idea of its consequence which they derived from the Moghuls; and because, in regard to the cession of Chourassy, the same objections urged by the British Government, and admitted by Nana Furnuwees at the time of Govind Rao’s accession, were precisely applicable on this occasion.¹ The reason of Govind Rao’s

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¹ [Up to May 14, 1800, political affairs in Surat had been in charge of an officer styled ‘Chief for the affairs of the British nation, and Governor of the Mughal Castle and Fleet of Surat,’ and subsequently of a lieutenant-governor. The last of these was Mr. Daniel Seton, whose monument is in the Cathedral at Bombay. By the proclama-

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¹ On this transaction of the Governor of Bombay, the Court of Directors make the following observation :—‘How desirable soever it might have been to obtain a territory contiguous to Surat, in consequence of the late arrangement with the Nabob of that city, it ought not to have been accepted at the risk of incurring the imputation of a breach of faith, and the consequent resentment of the Peishwa, with whom we were reciprocally bound to preserve the integrity of the Brodera principality, and with whom our interference has, at a former period, been successful in preventing the execution of a similar design on his part. We have, however, the satisfaction to observe by the 14th article of the treaty of Bassein, that the Peishwa has formally recognized the treaty with the Raja Anund Rao Gaekwar, otherwise we should have thought it incumbent on us to desire that the before-mentioned cessions be restored to the Gaekwar government.’

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tion of Jonathan Duncan, dated May 15, 1800, Surat District was placed under a Collector and a Judge and Magistrate, one of whom, generally the Judge, was also in political charge of the titular Nawāb and the small chiefs in the neighbourhood as Agent to the Governor of Bombay. These arrangements placed the English in possession of Surat and Rānder. Subsequent cessions under the treaties of Bassein (1802) and Poona (1817), together with the lapse of the Māndvi State in 1839, brought the District into its present shape. The title of Nawāb became extinct in 1842. Surat and Rānder are the two chief towns of the modern Chorāsi (Chourassy) tāluka. (I.G. Bom., 1909, i. 332.)]

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extreme complaisance was soon apparent, by his making an application for aid against Shelookur, which was evaded; but shortly afterwards Ahmedabad was taken, Shelookur was made prisoner, and the Peishwa granted his share of the revenue of Guzerat, in farm to the Baroda government, for a period of five years at five lacks of rupees annually. This agreement was concluded in October, 1800; but the death of Govind Rao, which happened during the preceding month, occasioned fresh disturbances in the province.

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Govind Rao Gaekwar left a large family; four legitimate and seven illegitimate sons, besides daughters. His eldest son Anund Rao was acknowledged by the principal officers as successor; but being a prince of weak intellect, different parties attempted to take the lead in the administration. Kanhojee Rao, the eldest illegitimate son of Govind Rao, a bold ambitious young man, was, in consequence of his turbulent behaviour, placed in confinement previous to his father's death, but having afterwards contrived to effect his release by professions of attachment to his brother, and his influence with some of the soldiery, he soon usurped not only the office of minister, but the entire powers of the state, and continued to rule for some months. At the end of that time, he was deposed by a party headed by Rowjee Appajee, a Purvoe, who had been the principal minister of the late Govind Rao; and both these persons, Rowjee the minister in power and Kanhojee the deposed authority, made offers to the Bombay Government, in order to engage its support. Rowjee promised to confirm the cessions of the late Govind Rao, and Kanhojee offered to add the district of Chickly to the grant. Rowjee was supported by his brother Babajee, who commanded the cavalry of the state, and by the greater part of a large body of Arab mercenaries, who composed the garrison of the town. The Arabs, whose numbers amounted to about seven thousand, though in some respects bound by unity of interests, were with their chiefs divided among themselves into parties under the influence of two Soucars or Bankers,¹ the one named Mungul Parikh, the other Samul Becher, both men of great wealth acquired by exorbitant

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¹ The soldiery in the service of native states in India, owing to the irregular manner in which they are paid, have generally a shroff, or money changer, the agent of some soucar, attached to each division, who advances them money at a high interest, and recovers it as he best can.

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(A.D. 1801.)

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interest on loans, and who were the means by which the needy government of the Gaekwar was at once supplied and impoverished. Both these persons had acceded to the deposition of Kanhojee, so that Rowjee’s party was the strongest at Baroda; but the cause of Kanhojee was espoused by Mulhar Rao Gaekwar, the first cousin of the late Govind Rao and son and successor to Khundee Rao, the Jagheerdar of Kurree, a man of considerable talent and enterprise. On promise of a remission of arrears and exemption from future tribute on the patr of Kanhojee, Mulhar Rao, although he had at first acquiesced in the propriety of deposing and confining him, took the field at the head of a considerable army in aid of his cause, and began to reduce the garrisons held for Anund Rao under the administration of Rowjee. The minister immediately proposed to the Bombay Government to subsidize five battalions, on condition of being supported against Mulhar Rao, an offer too tempting to be resisted; but the Governor-General having sent no reply to Mr. Duncan’s numerous applications for instructions, it was determined, with that injudicious caution which characterizes half-measures, to send a small auxiliary force of about 1,600 men to Rowjee’s support. Major Alexander Walker, the officer in command of the detachment, was instructed to settle the disturbance by amicable mediation, if possible; otherwise, he was to act with Babajee, the brother of Rowjee, in suppressing the rebellion of Mulhar Rao. Major Walker’s detachment joined the Gaekwar’s army in the end of February, 1802, and advanced with it towards Kurree. Mulhar Rao, affecting regret for what he had done, offered to restore the places he had taken, and seemed sincerely desirous of making his peace: it was, however, soon discovered that he was insincere in his professions: the army advanced, Mulhar Rao continued to negotiate, but suddenly and in a most treacherous manner attacked the troops, and was repulsed by the British detachment, though they lost on the occasion about fifty men. It being, however, afterwards discovered that Mulhar Rao had seduced many of the Gaekwar’s troops, Major Walker’s situation became critical, and all the disposable troops at Bombay and Goa were immediately embarked under the command of Colonel Sir William Clarke, who landed at Cambay on the 12th of April, marched on the 14th, and joined Major Walker at Kurree, who had acted chiefly on the

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(March 17.)

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defensive since the action of the 17th of March. Colonel Clarke found Mulhar Rao’s army strongly entrenched under the walls of the town, and it was determined to storm their position without delay. The attack was made at break of day on the morning of the 30th of April, and the entrenchments carried in the most gallant style, with the loss on the part of the British of a hundred and sixty-three men in killed and wounded.¹ Mulhar Rao shortly afterwards surrendered at discretion; Kurree was evacuated and made over to the Gaekwar’s government, but two companies of Sepoys remained under a British officer to garrison the citadel. A small part of the army returned with Sir William Clarke to Bombay; the rest remained under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Woodington, subject to the requisitions of Major Walker, who was appointed Political Resident at the Gaekwar Court.

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¹ An extraordinary anecdote is related of Lieut. M’Cole of the 75th regt. in this attack, which deserves to be recorded. Just as Lieut. M. at the head of the grenadiers had got into the entrenchment, he observed a Patan in the act of levelling his matchlock at him, when snatching up a cannon shot which happened to be at his foot, he threw it with such instantaneous effect as to prevent his purpose by killing him on the spot. Lieut. M.’s strength and agility, as may be conceived from this fact, were very remarkable; but shortly afterwards, having caught the Guzerat fever, he died at Baroda after a few hours’ illness.

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A place of residence was assigned to Mulhar Rao in the town of Neriad and 1,25,000 rupees of the revenue of that district were set aside for his support, with a promise, in the event of his conducting himself peaceably, to enlarge his income as the necessities of the state were diminished.

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The finances of the Baroda government were in such a deplorable state of confusion and embarrassment that, without foreign aid, it would have been quite impossible to extricate it from total ruin. The prudence and ability of the British Resident were a powerful means of introducing reform; for although Rowjee Appajee was anxious for power and jealous of authority, he gladly solicited support when insurrections were to be suppressed, the government to be strengthened, its expenses to be reduced, money to be raised, and debt to be redeemed.

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The object requiring immediate attention was Gunput Rao, a relation of the Gaekwar family, and Mamlitdar of Sunkhera near Baroda, who had declared for Mulhar Rao, and held the fort of Sunkhera in his name: he had also been joined by Moorar Rao, one of the illegitimate sons of the late Gaekwar. A detachment of the subsidiary force was sent to reduce Sunkhera, and soon succeeded in obtaining its surrender; but Gunput Rao and Moorar Rao made their escape and found a refuge with the Powars of Dhar.

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A.D. 1802.—The next difficulty originated in the first essential reform, the reduction of the military force. The Arab mercenaries, who had for some time ruled at Baroda, became alarmed at the prospect of a diminution in their body, and after some discussion, in the course of which they advanced extravagant demands for arrears, taking advantage of their situation in the town, they confined the Gaekwar and refused to release him until their claims were satisfied. They also permitted Kanhojee to escape. Mulhar Rao disappeared about the same time from Neriad, and from the number of men already discharged, the late dispersion of Mulhar Rao’s army, and the unemployed soldiery at all times numerous in Guzerat, great apprehensions of serious disorders were naturally entertained. Major Walker anxiously endeavoured to bring them to terms and to restore order without the necessity of resorting to force; but finding every reasonable inducement ineffectual, he called in the aid of a European regiment from Bombay, which having joined the subsidiary force, Colonel Woodington (Dec. 18.) invested the town of Baroda, and after a siege of ten days, during which the Arabs from the cover of the walls and houses killed a number of the assailants and picked off a large proportion of officers, the breach being practicable, the garrison surrendered. The terms of capitulation were, the payment of such arrears as might be found justly their due, and a promise on their part to quit the country. The arrears amounted to seventeen and a half lacks, and were duly discharged. Most of the Arab chiefs honourably adhered to the conditions, but some of them, especially Abood Jemadar, forfeited the pledge he had given, went off at the head of a large party in a contrary direction to that which had been prescribed, and with a view to join Kanhojee. Colonel Woodington having been sent in pursuit of them, surprised their camp and dispersed them, but the fugitives prosecuted their route and ultimately most of them joined Kanhojee. That person, after his escape from Baroda, fled to Rajpeeplee,¹ a hilly tract on the northern boundary of Maharashtra, where having collected a body of men, he returned to Guzerat during the siege of Baroda, attacked and routed a body of Babajee’s troops, and prosecuted his march to the vicinity of the town.

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¹ [Rājpīpla (Rajpeeplee) is now a State in the Rewā Kāntha Agency, Bombay, bounded on the north by the Narbadā and the Mehwās estates of Rewā Kāntha; on the east by the Mehwās estates of Khāndesh District; on the south by Baroda State and Surat District; and on the west by Broach District. The greater portion of Rājpīpla is occupied by a continuation of the Sātpura hill-range. The Mahārānā of Rājpīpla belongs to the Gohel Rājpūt tribe. (I.G. Bom., 1909, ii. 457–60.)]

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1803. Jan. 1st.—Five days after its surrender, a detachment consisting of His Majesty’s seventy-fifth regiment and a battalion of Sepoys was sent under Major Holmes in pursuit of Kanhojee, who continued moving about, collecting troops, levying contributions, and endeavouring to stir up a party in his favour at Baroda. After a vain pursuit of one month, it was thought advisable to reinforce Major Holmes with 250 Europeans and 300 Sepoys, and at length Kanhojee took post in a strong ravine within four or five miles of the village of Sauree, where his troops concealing themselves allowed the advanced guard to enter before they gave their fire. It fell with such effect that the troops were thrown into some disorder. The Arabs immediately charged sword in hand, overpowered the advanced guard, and pressed forward in a most animated and daring manner. Major Holmes instantly dismounted, and placing himself at the head of the grenadiers of the 75th, followed by those of the second battalion, 1st regiment, he rushed forward supported by his whole line, and soon drove the enemy from the field. The loss of the British in this affair was considerable, upwards of one hundred men having been killed and wounded, of whom five were officers. Major Holmes displayed great energy on the occasion, particularly in a personal encounter with an Arab of great size, whom he laid dead at his feet, having by one cut nearly severed the body of his antagonist.²

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² I give this anecdote on the authority of my friend and brother officer, the late Major Edward Tandy, who saw the combat between them. The late Major-General Sir George Holmes, K.C.B., Major at the time the above affair took place, was a man of great stature and strength. He is said to have been frequently engaged hand to hand, and to have been always equally successful. He carried a stout