Janjira State , 1908
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
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Janjira State
Habsan, ' the African's land
State within the Political Agency of Kolaba, in the Konkan, Bombay, lying between 18 and 31' N. and 72 degree 53' and 73 degree 17' E. The State is bounded on the north by the Kundalika or Roha creek in Kolaba District ; on the east by the Roha and Mangaon s of the same District ; on the south by the Bankot creek in Ratnagiri District ; and on the west by the Arabian Sea. About the middle of the coast-line, 40 miles long, the Rajpuri Gulf divides Janjira into two main portions, northern and southern. The area is 324 square miles, excluding Jafarabad in Kathiawar, which is also subject to the chief. The name Janjira is a corruption of the Arabic jazira, . an island.'
Physical aspects
The surface of the State of Janjira is covered with spurs and hill ranges, averaging about 1,000 feet in height, and generally running parallel to the arms of the sea that penetrate east- wards into the interior. The sides of the hills are aroccts. thickly wooded, except where cleared for cultivation. Inland from the coast rise ranges of wooded hills. Near the mouths of the creeks belts of palm groves from 1 to 2 miles broad fringe the shore. Behind the palm groves lie salt marshes and mangrove bushes; behind these again, the rice lands of the valleys. The wealthiest and largest villages, inhabited by skilful gardeners, well- to-do fishermen, and palm-tappers, nestle in the palm-belt along the coast. Inland, the banks of the creeks are studded with hamlets, occupied by husbandmen who cultivate rice. On the hill-sides, in glens or on terraces, are the huts and scanty clearings of Kathkaris and other hillmen. The slopes of the lower hills are generally rounded and passable by a pony. These slopes, except in the rains, are bare ; but at most times, and particularly at high tide, the Rajpuri creek affords fine views of wooded hill and winding water. In former times travel was nearly impossible during the rains ; but since the accession of the present Nawab in 1883, roads have been constructed affording considerable facilities for travel even in the rainy season. On the coast the sand-bars at the mouth of every inlet but the Rajpuri creek prevent ingress. Farther inland, the low rice lands become covered with deposited mud, the main streams are flooded too deeply to be forded, and overgrown forest tracts render difficult the passage from one hill range to another. None of the streams is more than 5 or 6 miles in length. The larger watercourses flow westward. During the rains they are torrents, but dwindle to mere rills at other seasons. The chief creeks and backwaters are, beginning from the north: the Mandla-Borlai, Nandgaon, Murud, Rajpuri, Panchaitan or Dive-Borlai, and Srlvardhan. Most of the creek entrances are rocky and dangerous. During the navigable season, September to June, they can be entered only by boats of under 1 ½ tons burden. Once over the bar, the creeks are mostly of uniform depth through- out their course. The mouth of the Rajpuri creek is 45 miles south of Bombay. The creek ends at the old town of Mhasla, 14 miles south-east of Janjira town. At springs the tide rises 12 feet in the creek. There is no bar. The bottom is muddy. The least depth at low tide is 3 ½ fathoms at the entrance of the creek, and 4 ½ fathoms inside the entrance in the mid-channel. Steamers can enter, even during the rains, and lie in still water to the south of Janjira island.
The rock is almost all trap, with, on the higher hill slopes, laterite or ironstone in large boulders. The hills are well wooded, teak being plentiful in the north. Tigers, leopards, hog, and wild cats are found in some parts. Venomous snakes are numerous. The climate is moist and relaxing, but not unhealthy. The sea- breeze cools the coast and hill-tops. Along the coast, fever and dysentery prevail from October to January. The heat on the coast ranges from 63 to 85 in January, from 70 to 94 in May, from 79 to 85 in July, and from 69 to 84 in November. Inland, where the sea-breeze does not penetrate, the thermometer ranges 7 or 8° higher. The annual rainfall averages 107 inches.
History
The origin of the ruling family is thus related. About the year 1489 an Abyssinian in the service of one of the Nizam Shahi kings of Ahmad- nagar, disguised as a merchant, obtained permis- sion from Ram Patel, the Koll captain, to land 300 boxes. Each of these boxes contained a soldier, and by this means the Abyssinians possessed themselves of Janjira island and the fort of Danda Rajpuri. The island afterwards formed part of the dominions of the king of Bijapur. In the time of Sivajl the government of the Southern Konkan was held by the admiral of the Bijapur fleet, who was always an Abyssinian. In consequence of the inability of his master to succour him when attacked by Sivajl, the Sldi admiral offered his services, in 1670, to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The most noticeable point in the history of Janjira is its successful resistance alone of all the States of Western India to the determined attacks of the Marathas, who made its capture a point of honour. After repeated attacks by Sivajl, its conquest was again attempted in 1682 by his son Sambhajl, who besieged the island, which he attempted to connect with the mainland by means of a mole. The project failed, and other attempted modes of attack were defeated with heavy loss. In 1733 the combined efforts of the Peshwa, and Angria made little impression on Janjira. The British, on succeeding the Marfithas as masters of the Konkan, refrained from interfering in the internal administration of the State.
The chief is a Sunni Muhammad an, by race a Sldi or Abyssinian, with the title of Nawab. He has a sanad guaranteeing succession according to Muhammadan law, and pays no tribute. As regards succession, the family does not necessarily follow the rule of primo- geniture. Till 1868 the State enjoyed singular independence, there being no Political Agent, and no interference whatever in its internal affairs. About that year the maladministration of the chief, especially in matters of police and criminal justice, became flagrant; those branches of administration were in consequence taken out of his hands and vested in a Political Agent. The treaty which regulates the dealings of the British Government with the State is that of 1870. The Nawab of Janjira is entitled to a salute of 11 guns.
Population
The population (exclusive of Jafarabad) at the last four enumerations was: (1872) 71,996, (1881) 76,361, (1891) 81,780, and (1901) 85,414. There are two towns, Murud (population, 3,553) and Srivardhan (5,961) ; and 284 l villages. The density is 264 persons per square mile. About 82 per cent, are Hindus and 17 per cent. Musalmans. The castes of numerical importance are Agris (9,617), Kolls (7,326), Kunbls (15,670), and Mahars (7,242). Brahmans (1,524) and Prabhus (1,771) constitute the higher castes. The Musalmans are chiefly Shaikhs (13,552), only 240 having re- turned themselves as Sldis in 1901. An interesting though numerically unimportant community are the Bani-Israil (566), who are a race of Jewish descent, worship one God, and have no images in their houses. They practise many Jewish rites. The dress and manner of living of the Bani-Israil, who are mostly oil-pressers by trade, are partly Muham- madan and partly Hindu. They speak Marathf. Though fond of drink, they are steady, enterprising, and prosperous. The Sidls are the representatives of Habshi or Abyssinian slaves and soldiers of fortune, and are only found in the island of Janjira. Many of them are related to the Nawab and inherit State grants and allowances. The term Sldi is considered to be a corruption of Saiyid. The crews of trje. Bombay harbour boats, the steamships of the Peninsular and Oriental Company, and the smaller coasting steamers, are to a great extent recruited from Janjira.
Agriculture
Except the plots of rich alluvial rice land in the valleys and some sandy tracts near the coast, the usual red stony soil of the Konkan prevails throughout Janjira. Of the whole area, 42 square miles or 13 per cent, are arable, of which 41 square miles were cultivated in 1903-4. The principal crops are rice (38 J square miles), betel-nuts, and coco-nuts. Srivardhan betel-nuts are known throughout the Bombay Presidency. In tha strip of light sand bordering the coast coco-nut palms grow in great
1 The Census of 1901 showed 234 villages. The present figure is based npon more recent information. perfection. For irrigation purposes, water sufficiently fresh is found everywhere by digging a few feet into the easily worked earth. It is drawn from wells by means of the Persian wheel, and from streams by a balance lift called uktL In 1878 the British system of forest preservation was adopted. The forests are now strictly protected, and in 1903-4 yielded Rs. 40,700. Quarries of trap and laterite are occasionally worked. Small pearls are found in oysters fished up from the Rajpuri creek. The oyster is believed to be the Placuna placenta. Judging from the quantities of shells thrown up along the banks of the Rajpuri creek, the beds must be considerable.
Trade and communication
Next to agriculture, which supports 70 per cent, of the total popula- tion, sea-fishing is the occupation of most of the people. The manu- factures include the weaving of saris, coarse cloth, turbans, and the machining of coir rope, metal-work furniture, stone-ware, and native shoes of an inferior kind. The chief articles of import are grain (Rs. 60,000), cotton and woollen stuffs (Rs. 70,000), sugar and molasses (Rs. 56,000), salt (Rs. 10,000), ghi and oil (Rs. 77,000); the total value of imports being 4.3 lakhs. The export trade amounts to more than 3 lakhs, the chief articles being firewood (Rs. 83,000), supplied to Bombay, and betel-nuts and coco-nuts (Rs. 63,000). External traffic is carried on almost entirely by water. In March, 1874, a regular steam communi- cation was established between Bombay and Dasgaon on the Savitri river, touching at Janjlra and Srivardhan. There are twelve ferries in the State. A ferry steamer plies between Bombay and Dharamtar. The chief made roads are from Murud to Borlai, 14 miles in length, and from Dighi to Srivardhan, 19 miles. A State post formerly worked between Allbag and Bankot, but was abolished in 1880 when the British post office extended.
Famine
Since 1872, when the crops partially failed, the State has suffered from bad seasons in 1875, 1878, 1879, and 1881.
In 1899-1900 the crops in several villages failed on account of the scanty rainfall, and relief works were undertaken.
Administration
The administration of the State is in the hands of the Karbhari, under the orders of the Nawab and subject to the supervision of the Political Agent. . There are ten criminal courts (excluding three in the Jafarabad dependency), with subordinate magisterial powers, and three civil courts in the State, two of which exercise appellate powers. The three civil courts are those of the Munsif, the Sar Nyayadhish, and the Sadr Court The Munsif disposes of suits up to the value of Rs. 5,000. The Sar NyaySdhish hears suits of greater value, exercises Small Cause Court powers up to a limit of Rs. 50, and also has appellate powers. The Sadr Court, which is presided over by the Nawab himself, exercises the powers of a High Court. The Kdrbhdri has the powers of a Sessions Judge and District Magistrate.
The revenue of the State exceeds 5 ½ lakhs (inclusive of about Rs. 65,000 from Jafarabad in Kathiawar), and is chiefly derived from land (2 ½ lakhs), forests (Rs. 41,000), excise (Rs. 70,000), and salt and customs (Rs. 50,000). The expenditure is 5 lakhs (inclusive of Rs. 41,000 in Jafarabad), of which one lakh is brought to account as Darbar expenses and Rs. 50,000 as inam and charities or religious grants. Salt is purchased from the British Government, the annual sale of which amounts to 9,000 maunds. Opium is also purchased from the British Government The excise system is the same as in the Allbag of Kolaba District Of the total excise revenue, the tree taxes yield Rs. 34,000 and the toddy spirit fee Rs. 20,000. Till it was closed in 1834, the Nawab's mint issued silver and copper coins. British coinage has now taken the place of the old currency. The total number of villages (including towns) is 286, of which 263 are unalienated and 23 alienated. The chief district revenue officer is in charge of the three fiscal divisions or mahdls of Srlvardhan, Murud, and Mhasla. The survey settlement was introduced in 1898-9. The new rates have enhanced the assessment from 1-81 to 1- 86 lakhs. The present rates for rice land vary from Rs. 6-7 to Rs. 9-9 per acre ; for garden land frpm Rs. 6-10 to Rs. 15-n ; and for varkas land from 3 to 4 annas.
There are two municipalities, besides that at Jafarabad, one at Murud and the other at Srivardhan, with an income in 1903-4 of Rs. 3,600 and Rs. 3,200 respectively. Local funds yield Rs. 15,000, consisting of a cess of one anna on each rupee of land revenue and of part of the income from cattle pounds. Exclusive of 13 irregulars in Jafarabad, the military force consists of 30 infantry, 14 gunners, and 188 irregulars, in all 232. The total strength of the permanent police is 137, exclusive of 28 in Jafarabad. The daily average number of prisoners in the State jail in 1903-4 was 1 1. There are also 3 lock-ups. Janjlra proper has (1903-4) 69 schools, including one English school with 130 pupils. The number of pupils attending these schools was 2,862, of whom 428 were girls. A hospital and 4 dispensaries treat about 30,000 persons annually. Jafarabad contains 2 dispensaries, which treated 6,000 persons in 1903-4. Nearly 3,000 persons, or 36 per 1,000 of the population, are vaccinated annually.
