1 ( 89 )
2 150. Early in January 1855, the Chiefship of Mumdote, in the
3 Cis-Sutlej States, which for some time had been
4 Discontent of the peo in a state of considerable disorder, became
5 Prieftip. en thoroughly disorganized. A Jarge body of exiles
6 ~ came to Lahore, and complained against the
7 oppression and tyranny é the Qgief The Commissioner of the
8 division was directed to visit the country, and make a full and
9 searching inquiry into the complaints of the people, in the presence
10 of the Nuwab or his representatives. On the arrival of the Com-
11 missioner at Mumdote, complaints poured in from every quarter. The
12 Nuwab and his sons were accused of murder, the frequent seizure of
13 young females of every rank for the gratification of their lusts,
14 and of systematic extortion and oppression. The inquiry extend-
15 ed over several months, during which the Commissioner, Mr. Barnes,
16 visited various parts of the district twice, and his successor
17 the Officiating Commissioner, visited it once. Many of the complaints
18 were proved beyond doubt. The feelings of the great mass of the people
19 were bitterly incensed against their Chief ; trade wagywell nigh paralysed
20 and agriculture ruined; the country was fast relapsing into a desert,
21 and the Revenue had fallen from £8,000 per annum to £2,000. The
22 Nuwab of Mumdote having been convicted of va-
23 rious specific crimes, and of general mismanage-
24 ont er ne Ne ment of his country, was degraded by Government
25 ee the Revenue from the rank and privileges of an independent
26 Chief vested with internal jurisdiction, into an
27 ordinary subject, amenable to the British Courts
28 of Justice. His estates were all maintained to him; but he has been
29 obliged to reside at Lahore for a term of years; his quota of horsemen
30 has been commuted into a money payment; his seignorial power has
31 been withdrawn; and the taxation of his lands will be assessed; and
32 beyond these assessments, he will no longer be able to demand a rupee
33 from the village proprietors. Mumdote was formerly a part of the
34 Lahore Territory, and was held in fiefdom by the Chief. When the
35 Lahore possessions on the left bank of the Sutlej were confiscated after
36 the war of *1846, the Chief of Mumdote, who had performed various
37 services to us towards the end of the war, was created a Nuwab, and his
38 Jageers converted into a principality, over which he was allowed, to
39 exercise independent jurisdiction.
40 N