'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎164v] (333/502)

2
to Petlad where they handed them over to the Vahivatdar. Three men died
in Baroda, and 3 or 4 afterwards on their return died from their wounds.
In ^ the assessment was increased 2 annas in the rupee over the whole pargana,
and some 500 people came to Baroda to protest against the increase. One
Chagabhai,Patel of Chango, was seized in Baroda, fixed in a wooden frame-work
with a beam over his neck, and his person " spread eagled." He was then
struck twice on the breech, and at once agreed to give anything which
was demanded from him. I saw this myself, and also agreed to give the
increased demand. It is a common practice in levying arrears to make
defaulters stand stooping in the sun, touching their toes, in water, with weights
on their necks, and so on. 1 have often seen these practices in my own village.
Some 25 Kanbis have left my village in the last 2 years in consequence of
inability to pay their assessment.
I have never given any one a bribe, nor have I had occasion to offer one.
No one has ever asked one from me.
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). Agents defer cross-examination.
3. Javerbhai Jesabhai, 58 years, Mattadar of Sojitra, in Petlad, states : —
In ^ ^ the Government sent a force of 5 guns, 50 sowars, and 1 regiment
of Infantry to levy the Inam Commission tax in Sojitra. They first called
on the Bhats and Brahmans to pay up, but as they refused to do so the force
was quartered on us for 5 or 6' days, at the end of which time they made a
night attack on the Bhat and Brahman quarter, captured about 150 persons
and took them to Petlad. I saw 3 men wounded lying on cots, and some 12
or 14 others with cuts and wounds. The captives were imprisoned at Petlad
for periods from 1 to 3 months, and were only released on giving security to
pay the tax. Five died in jail, but none after they returned home. In conse
quence of their alarm at these proceedings the rest of the people paid the tax
without opposition.
Two years after, in consequence of a fresh tax, the " Ranvel vero," being
levied, some 20 or 25 Kanbis fled from the village ; some were made to stand
stooping in the sun, and in similar ways made to pay. I paid myself through
fear.
In 1925 I saw Chagabhai, Patel of Changa, placed in a wooden frame at
the Foujdari, but I donot know what was done to him, as I went away at once
on getting permission to depart.
I have never given any one a bribe, nor has any one even asked for
one from me.
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). reserve cross-examination.
4. Doribhai Desabhai, Kanbi, 35 years, of Wasna, states:— In ^ a
sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. came to Wasna to levy the gadi nazarana, and having made me prisoner,
he kept me in custody near himself for a whole day, at the end of which I paid
the tax. There was also a Koli by name Keslo, whom the sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. saddled and
put a bridle on, and then mounted, and the rest of the village, being filled with
fear at what had been done to him, paid the nazarana at once. The sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. was
alone. No receipt was given to us for our payments. I paid for the Koli on
his engaging to work for me. Ten Kolis have left the village from inability
to pay their rent.
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). Agents defer cross-examination.
5. Girdhar Jesingh, Cultivator of Sadaina, in Petlad pargana, states : —
Last Jeth (May-June) a Karkun,by name Daji Shridhar, came from the Petlad
Mahal, and demanded the gadi nazarana from us. We told him we could
not pay, whereupon he made some 50 of us, of whom I was one, stand on
hot bricks in the sun touching our toes, and made his sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. mount upon our

'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎164v] (333/502)

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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎164v] (333/502)

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