Porbandar State, 1908
Porbandar State, 1908
Native State in the Kathiawar Political Agency, Bombay, lying between 21degree 14' and 21degree 56' N. and 69 28' and 70degree E., with an area of 636 square miles. It is situated in the west of the peninsula of Kathiawar, and consists of a strip along the shore of the Arabian Sea, nowhere more than 24 miles broad.
The Porbandar State may be described roughly as a plain sloping from the Barda hills to the sea, drained by many rivers, the largest of which, the Bhadar, Sorti, Vartu, Minsar, and Ojat, contain water throughout the year. Towards the coast lie tracts of marsh land called gher, formed by the rainfall. On some of these, which are penetrated by salt water, only grass and reeds can flourish ; but on the rest rice, gram, udid, mug, and other crops are grown. The largest gher is the ModhwSra, about 6 miles long by 4 miles broad, con- nected with the sea by the Kindari creek. This marsh, though fed by no large stream, receives all the drainage of the Barda hills. When it fills during the rainy season, the villagers dig away the sand with which the sea annually closes the mouth of the creek, the water flows into the sea, while the sea -water enters the marsh during very high tides. The Gangajai is a large fresh-water marsh situated not far from the Kindari creek, about 2 miles in circumference, but unless the rains are heavy does not hold water for more than eight months in the year. The climate is healthy; the annual rainfall averages 25 to 30 inches.
The chief is a Hindu of the Jethwa clan of Rajputs and belongs to one of the oldest races in Western India, whose advent is approxi- mately set down at from A.D. 900 to 1000. They held Barda and occupied much of the adjacent coast region of Halar. After the cap- ture and sack of Ghumli, the Jethwas retired to Ranpur, where they remained for many years, but were finally driven to Chhaya. While there they acquired Porbandar and Navi from Jhe Mughal government, and reconquered much of their adjacent possessions from the Jadejas. In 1785 Sultanj! transferred his seat of rule to Porbandar, which has ever since been the Jethwa capital and given a name to the chiefship. The ruler executed the usual engagements in 1807. He is entitled to a salute of 11 guns. The family follow the rule of primogeniture in point of succession, and hold a sanad authorizing adoption. The chiefs title is Rana of Porbandar.
The population at the last four enumerations was : (1872) 72,077, (1881) 71,072 (1891) 85,785, and (1901) 82,640, showing a decrease 6f 4 per cent, during the last decade, owirg to the famine of 1899- 1900. In 1901 Hindus numbered 71,642, Musalmans 9,741, and Jains 1,158. The capital is PORBANDAR TOWN, and there are 96 vil- lages. The style of house-building is peculiar. No mortar is used, but the limestone, of which better-class houses are built, is accurately squared and fitted ; and it is asserted that the quality of the limestone is such that when once the rain has fallen on a wall thus built, the joints coalesce and the wall becomes one solid block.
The soil is as a rule an excellent black soil, though a less fertile red soil occurs in places. The area cultivated in 1903-4 was 295 square miles, of which 59 were irrigated. The principal crops are jowar, bajra, wheat, cotton, &c. ; and the principal products of the sea are fish of different kinds. Turtles of large size abound along the coast, but are not captured. Oysters are found, but do not produce pearls like those of the Gulf of Cutch. The limestone, known as Porbandar stone, found over almost the whole of the State, is chiefly quarried in the Barda hills, notably at the Adatiana quarry, and is largely exported to Bombay. Iron is also found, but is not smelted. Silk of good quality and cotton cloth are manufactured. In 1903-4 concessions were granted for the erection of a cotton-press. The Malik hill 'is the only portion of the elevated country that is fairly wooded. The forest revenue, derived chiefly from the sale of grass and wood, was Rs. 33,000 in 1903-4.
Much of the trade of the State has been absorbed by Bombay, but large quantities of timber are still imported from the Malabar ports. Cotton seed and tobacco are imported from Broach, embroideries from Surat, and raw sugar from Gandevi and Navsari. Grain is im- ported from Karachi. All the exports go to Bombay. Heavy port dues, the competition of Verval and Bhaunagar, and insufficient com- munications account for the decline of the State as a trading centre. In 1881 a British Superintendent of customs was appointed under the local administration, but has now yielded place to a State official. The total value of the sea-borne trade in 1903-4 was 44 lakhs. The chief harbours are Porbandar, Madhavpur, Miani, and Navibandar. The Bhavnagar-Gondal-Junagarh- Porbandar Railway passes through the State; and the net income of the State from the line in 1903-4 was Rs. 79,57-
Porbandar ranked as a State of the first class in Kathiawar until 1869, and was restored to this rank again in 1886, during the period of Government administration. First-class powers were given to the present ruler in 1900, with certain restrictions, which have recently been removed. The chief has power to try persons for capital offences, the trial of British subjects for such offences, however, requiring the previous permission of the Agent to the Governor. He enjoys a gross revenue of about 9! lakhs (1903-4), chiefly derived from land (3 lakhs). The State pays a tribute of Rs. 48,504 jointly to the British Government, the Gaikwar of Baroda, and the Nawab of Junagarh. The police force numbered 299 men in 1905. There are one jail and four lock-ups, with a daily average (1903-4) of 29 prisoners. The number of schools is 38, with a total (1903-4) of pupils. The municipality at Porbandar had an income of Rs. 26,000 in 1903-4. The State has one hospital and three dispensaries, afford- ing relief to about 123,000 patients in 1903-4. In the same year about 1,700 persons were vaccinated. A horse-breeding farm is main- tained by the State.
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.
