Morvi/ Morbi 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.
Morvi State
State in the Kathiawar Political Agency, Bombay, lying between 22° 23' and 23° 6' N. and 70" 30' and 71° 3' E., with an area of 822 square miles. The country is generally flat. The river Machhu, on which the town of Morvi stands, never runs dry, and is crossed by a good bridge. The climate near the coast is good, but fever is common throughout the State. The annual rainfall averages 23 inches.
The Thakur Sahib of Morvi claims to be directly descended from the Cutch line and not through the Navanagar family. He possesses a small subdivision in Cutch with a port at Jangi. Many disputes have arisen with the Rao of Cutch regarding this port and the sea- borne trade. The differences which exist between the two States find a vent in obstructions offered to the trader. Tradition represents the chief of Morvi as the descendant of the eldest son of the Rao of Cutch who, in the latter part of the seventeenth century, was murdered by a younger brother, and whose family thereupon fled to this place, then a dependency of Cutch. Their possession of Morvi was subsequently sanctioned by the Cutch ruler. The chief entered into the same engagements with theBritish Government as the other Kathiawar chiefs in 1807. He holds a sanad authorizing adoption, and the succession of the house follows the rule of primogeniture. The chief is entitled to a salute of 11 guns. The present chief was created a K.C.I.E. in 1887, and subsequently in 1897 a G.C.I.E.
The population at the last four enumerations was: (1872) 90,016, (1881) 89,964, (1891) 105,335, and (1901) 87,496, showing a decrease of 17 per cent, during the last decade, owing to the famine of 1899- 1900. In 1901 Hindus numbered 72,443, Musalmans 10,099, and Jains 4,913. The capital is Morvi Town, and there are 140 villages.
Grain, sugar-cane, and cotton are the principal products. The area cultivated is 345^ square miles, of which 3^ square miles are irrigated. Irrigation is provided by 4,257 wells and by the Paneli water-works, which irrigate 1,208 blghas. A veterinary hospital is maintained; and horse-breeding is carried on by 14 stallions and 240 mares. Salt and coarse cotton cloth are manufactured. A cotton-mill, established by the State a few years ago, has recently been closed : but a cotton- ginning factory and gas-works are still maintained. The chief articles of export are cotton, oil, ghl, wool, grain, hides and horns ; and the chief articles of import are timber, cotton cloth, oil, and coal. The total trade by sea and land amounted in 1903-4 to about 31 lakhs; namely, imports 12 lakhs, and exports about 9 lakhs.
The State owns the port of Vavania, on the Gulf of Cutch, and maintains a good road between Morvi and Rajkot. A tramway runs from Morvi to the port of Navlakhi. The State railway, nearly 90 miles in length, known as the Morvi line, has been partly converted to the metre gauge : it pays a dividend of about 5 per cent. Steam and oil launches are maintained by the State for traflfic between Navlakhi port and Khari Rohar.
Morvi ranks as a first-class State in Kathiawar. The chief has full power over his own people, the trial of British subjects for capital offences requiring the previous permission of the Agent to the Governor. He enjoys an estimated revenue of more than 7^ lakhs (excluding the railway), chiefly derived from land (4-| lakhs), and pays a tribute of Rs. 61,559 jointly to the British Government, the Gaik- war of Baroda, and the Nawab of Junagarh. The State contains four municipalities. In 1905 an armed police force of 176 men was main- tained : there are also 15 mounted men. The State contains a Central jail and four subsidiary jails, with a daily average of 102 prisoners. In 1903-4 there were 49 schools, with a total of 2,086 pupils, of whom 155 are girls; and 6 medical institutions, treating 25,000 patients. In the same year about 1,900 persons were vaccinated.
