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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [&lrm;11v] (27/502)

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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎11v] (27/502)

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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874'

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Ref: Mss Eur F126/78

The record is made up of 1 volume (249 folios). It was created in 1 Nov 1873-14 Feb 1874. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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14
it are made to by the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. and his assistants, and are referred
by him to the Subah in immediate command of such portion, who resides at
Head Quarters at Manikwara. The Superintendent is also Assistant to the
Resident at Baroda, and is in Political charge of the Gaekwar's Mahals in Kat-
tywar. He is under the orders of the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. as regards the distribution
and employment of the Force, but reports to the Resident in any matters con
nected with its control or internal economy, which cannot be arranged with or
through the Subah, and in which a reference 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). is necessary. The
Superintendent's powers of control and representation extend to the casting of
such horses as are in his opinion unserviceable, and to the approval or rejection
of those entertained to replace them; to referring to the Subah for enquiry and
proper notice, cases of misconduct on the part of the men, and where such ap
pears to be necessary, suggesting the nature of the punishment that should be
inflicted therein; and to reporting to the Resident instances of special good or
bad conduct on the part of the men, or other matters connected with the Force,
that he desires to bring to the notice of 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). .
It is further the duty of the Superintendent to see that the Contingent is kept
in order, and that the men are dressed, armed, and accoutred " according to the
Gaekwari custom" as provided in the Treaty; that the Reformed Troop is drilled,
clothed, and armed, as ordered; and, as stated above, to receive and dispose of
all requisitions for detachments and all complaints against the men from the
Political Officers of the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. .
The Superintendent observes that during six years incumbency of the post
he has always received the fullest and most willing assistance from the Subah
and has never had to refer a case to the Resident, on account of the Subah',
neglect to attend to his representations. Instances of serious offence, reported 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). by the Subah with the Superintendent's opinion, are, he adds, invari
ably dealt with by it with due severity.
29. As regards the composition of the Kattywar portion of the Contingent
the Pagadars generally, and many of the Silledars, reside at Baroda, the duties
connected with the charge of the Pagahs being performed by their deputies, while
the absent Silledars are represented by Bargirs. The Pagahs are composed of
individual Silledars and Bargirs, who ride horses belonging to the Pagadars.
Bargirs are similarly employed by the Silledars who have more than one horse
or " asami."
Reformed Troop. Two of the Pagahs, comprising 111 men of all grades, have
been organized into a " Reformed Troop," as noted in the margin. The pay al-
lowed for the Sowars of this troop, is Babasai
4 Jemadars 2 Trumpeters ^ 2 8 -^ 0 ) P e r mensem which is
1 Worda Major l Camel Sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. [ . wn b y t . he Pagadars, the whole of the men
4 Havildars Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. 2 Farriers being Bargirs. The latter receive Babasai Rs. 10
i xr^ 8 , , J] Non-effective s (British Rs. 8-2-0) per mensem, the horses, uni-
an ar ar 4 Sowars form, arms, and equipments being all provided by
the Pagadars.
The whole of the rest of the Force consists of ordi-
emam er o e orce. nary" Rajwara" Sowars, and is without uniform, mili
tary organization, or discipline of any sort.
30. Horses. The horses of the Force generally are of small size, and many of
tnem are m bad condition, which is no doubt to some extent due to the descrip
tion of work on which they are employed. Much of it is, however, the natural
consequence of neglect and want of supervision. Some of the horses are fairly
good and a large proportion of them, though not of the class that would be deemed
, .rrlll l c&yslr y purposes, would probably be quite equal to the
ry u ies e Contingent ought to be employed on, if more cared for by their

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Content

Report of the Baroda Enquiry Commission on the administration of the government of Malharrao, Gaekwar of Baroda. The Commission comprised Richard John Meade (President), Edward William Ravenscroft, Mumtazul Dowlah Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Faiz Ali Khan, Colonel Alfred Thomas Etheridge and Thomas Duncan Mackenzie (Secretary).

The report comprises a letter from the members of the Baroda Enquiry Commission to the Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department presenting their report on the results of the proceedings and submitting copies of correspondence, reports and statements relative to the enquiry (ff 5-19):

Appendix A, Part I

Schedules I-III: Complaints and grievances against the Gaekwar's Government from individuals and groups (ff 21-78).
Appendix B, Schedules I-III: Cases of complaint and grievance which the commission did not look into during the enquiry (ff 79-81).
Appendix C: Letter from Colonel Richard John Meade, President, Special Commission of Enquiry on Baroda Affairs, to Colonel Robert Phayre, Resident at Baroda, 1 November 1873 (ff 82-83).
Appendix D: Translation of an amended notice issued by the Resident to complainants desirous of appearing before the Baroda Enquiry Commission (ff 84-85).
Appendix E: Schedules presented to the Commission along with Colonel Phayre's introductory statement regarding them. (ff 86-131).
Appendix F: Letter No. 1128 of 1873 from Colonel Phayre to the President, Baroda Commission regarding the cases already submitted to the Commission, the List of undisposed petitions to be attended to by the Resident which could be used as additional cases if required and the statements that he had yet to make on cases under enquiry by the Commission (ff 132-133).
Appendix G, Schedule I: Statements from witnesses with cross examination statements from 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). on behalf of the Gaekwar and statements from the Resident as to the accuracy of the information provided (ff 134-229).

Appendix Part II (ff 231-245)

Letter from James Braithwaite Peile, Acting Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Kattywar [Kathiawar] to T D Mackenzie, Secretary, Baroda Commission, 13 December 1873 regarding papers requested by the Commission and informing them that the outstanding paper will be forwarded as soon as they are received. Enclosed with the letter are a memorandum from Peile for reconstitution of His Highness the Gaekwar's Contingent in Kattywar, 13 December 1873 and Rule for the guidance of the Officers and Kamdars appointed to the Contingent of Horse of His Highness the Gaekwar, serving in the various Tributary Mahals according to treaty.
Letter from Peile to Mackenzie, 6 January 1874, forwarding a report and returns received from Colonel Walker, Superintendent to the Gaekwar's Contingent in Kattywar and stating that he does not concur with the Colonel's opinion. Enclosed with this letter is a letter from Colonel Chamberlen William Walker, 30 December 1873, providing the information on the Contingent requested by the Commission and enclosing an extract of the Contingents annual report for 1871 and a statement of the men within the Contingent on duty under officials paid by Talukdars etc, 06 March 1872.
Letters from John Whaley Watson, Acting Political Superintendent Pahlanpur [Palanpur], Captain Henry Nicholas Reeves, Acting Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. Rewa Kanta [Rewa Kantha] and Major Philip Harrison Le Geyt, Acting Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Mahi Kanta [Mahi Kantha] to the secretary of the Baroda Commission 19 December 1873 to 9 January 1874 reporting on the Gaekwar's contingents serving within their districts and commenting on numbers of men, pay and conditions. The letters all refer to enclosed returns, but only the return for Mahi Kanta is included in the report.

Extent and format

1 volume (249 folios)

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main sequence of foliation consists of a small pencil number in the top front right hand corner of each folio enclosed in a circle.

There is also an original sequence of foliation which consists of larger pencil numbers also in the top front right hand corner of folios, however the sequence is not consistent and some of the numbers may be filing references rather than foliation numbers.

Written in

English in Latin script

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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎11v] (27/502), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F126/78, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023442806.0x00001c> [accessed 30 June 2026]

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Reference: Mss Eur F126/78
Title: 'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874'
Pages: front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:248v, back-i
Author: East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
Usage terms: Open Government Licence