Enclosures of Letter to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India, No.213, dated 27 November 1874: Nos. 3 to 31 of Abstract of Contents, from Foreign Department, Fort William [‎13v] (26/102)

'i.*
Your Highness may be pleased to cause a fixed arrangement of the ghansdhana
claim to be made for a period of years not less than ten, taking into considera
tion the opinions expressed by the Commission. 1 shall be glad to afford any
help that I am able to do in this matter.
No. 1795C.15 ; dated Baroda, 24tb September 1874.
From—Resident, Baroda,
To—His Highness Gaekwar.
The next subject to which I am instructed to invite Your Highness' serious
attention for settlement according to equity and reason in connection with the
khureeta An important letter usually sent in an elaborate textile pouch, dispatched as part of the royal or diplomatic correspondence of rulers and elites. of His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor-General, dated 25th July
last, and the proceedings of the Baroda Commission, is that of the grievances of
certain State and other bankers at Baroda, of certain jewellers and traders of
Ahmedabad, and other places trading with Baroda as set forth in paragraph 8,
groups, 8, 18, and 20 ; and cases 37, 57, 58, 61, and 62 of Schedule 11. and
cases 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 of Schedule III. of the Commission Report.
His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor-General is of opinion that Your
Highness would do well to put a stop to proceedings, such as those taken to
wards respectable bankers and trading firms, which are described by the Com
mission as discreditable and spoliatory, arbitrary, and unjust.
I take this opportunity of bringing to Your Highness'notice that represent
ations have recently been received from the firms of llurree Bhugtee, Chuni
Lall titambur, Lowjee Oomed, Moti Lall Samul, Amtha Runchord, Rutunjee
Khandass, and Banabai Lalbhai, which with other cases of this class will form
the subject of negotiation prior to authoritative advice being ultimately offered
regarding them should such appear necessary.
Translation of Dnrbar yad, No. 1458, dated 17th August 1874.
I have received 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. yads, Nos. 1482C.2, 1483C .3., 1484C.4,
1485C.5, and 1486C.6, about the advice of His Excellency the Governor-Ge
neral : with regard to these I have to state as follows :—
With respect to yad No. l4il2C.2, requesting that the barbarous processes
employed in my State for realizing the revenue should be prohibited, and
stating that the matter being one of importance could not admit to delay, 1 beg
to assure His Excellency that the matter has engaged by serious attention.
The rules and mode of realizing the revenue and all such matters are at
present under my consideration. A complete Revenue Code will be prepared
as soon as possible, which will leave no room for committing oppression.
Offenders in this respect will be duly punished.
In yad No. 1483C.3 you have brought to notice the subject of a moderate
and equitable land settlement and a faithful adherence to its terms in future,
all further exactions of every sort or description being absolutely interdicted,
and the continuance of such oppressive practices on the part of 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). officials
being strictly forbidden. With regard to this I have to state that the last
ten years' settlement has expired in most of the mehals, and it is necessary
that for the current year some reasonable settlement of rates should be immedi
ately made. Azum Kazee Shahabudin made enquiries with regard to the jum-
mabundee of the four of the northern mehals, viz., Beejapur, Vusnuggur, Bur-
nuo-gur, and Khyraloo, and has submitted a report, which not only suggests on
an immediate reduction of rates but contains information which will be useful in
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