'Statement of Witnesses taken by Colonel Phayre' [‎16r] (31/40)

15
Q—When do you clean the inkstand, &c., in the Resident's room ?
A—I take my turn and clean it every other day with Baloo.
Q—How long have you been in the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. establishment?
A—For about one and half years. Before that time I was employed in the
Bazaar Office.
This evidence, havingbeenread overto the deponent in Hindocstanee, alanguage
which he understands, is acknowledged by him to be correct.
(Signed in native character.)
Before me this 13th day of November 1874.
(Sd.) R. P hayre , Col. Resident.
R unchod R utna , Mussal, is recalled and further examined.
Abdoola always prepares the sherbet in the dispense-khana, where I am engaged in ray
ordinary work. 1 remember h s preparing it on the morning of Monday, November 9th.
He squeezed it as usual into a small tumbler, which he then took with him into the dining-
room. When Abdoola has not prepared it. Faizoo has prepared it. I remember seeing
Faizoo on the morning of Monday the 9th, about 6-30, come into the dispense-khana. He
went from there into the dining-room. When he came into the dispense-khana Abdoola was
present with me and saw him come in. I do not know why he went into the dining-room.
We had not begun to clean the silver so early as 6-30 when Faizoo wont into the dining-room,
and I am certain that he brought no silver from there to clean.
This examination, having been read over to the witness in Hindoostanee, a language
which he understands, is acknowledged by him to be correct.
fSd.) Mark x of Runchod Rutna.
Before me this Mth day of November 1874.
(Sd.) R. P hayre , Col., Resident.
Statement by the Rev. J. Taylor , A.M., Missionary, Borsud, Kaira District, age 55.
Since the middle of 1873 I have been in the habit of visiting Baroda as a
missionary and visiting families in the camp, the railway and the city. On these
occasions I have stayed at the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , where natives have been in the habit
of visiting me in my private room. I know a Mussulman who represented himself
to me as"' a Deccan Kazee." He mentioned his name, which I do not remember,
but he said he was best known by the above name.
Almost every time that I have visited Baroda he has called upon me at the
Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. ; he represented himself as having once been in the favour of the pre
sent Gaekwar during his imprisonment at Padra, that the present Claekwar was
under great obligations to him, but that owing to the fact of his being a Mussul
man, he was disliked by the Brahmin courtiers, who poisoned the minds of the
Gaekwar against him by saying that he had called him a kaiir and had spoken
disrespectfully of the Hindu religion, that for a long time he had never been in
vited to the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). , was under a cloud, would leave Baroda at once, but having
got pecuniarily involved, on account of the expenses which he had incurred on
the Graekwar's behalf when he was in prison, he wished to be reinstated into
favour, and thus reinburse himself. He hoped that by my personal influence
either with the Resident or His Highness, I might be the means of enabling him to
secure his object. •
He never was present at any of my religious services with the natives and
always avoided religious conversation.
So importunate was he in his desire that 1 should introduce him
him to the Resident, with a view, as he said, to his restoration to favor with the
Gaekwar, that he has even come to me at Borsud, and when 1 was at Bombay
last year was particularly importunate. I always told him that if he had any
special grievance and would draw up a petition he might either present it directly
to the Resident, who was always open to receive petitions, or that I might
venture to present it myself. He declined to write a petition, and I always