LIt1IBDI SPATS i t
lying between 22° 3o' and 22° 37' N., and between 716. 4q:' and
71' 52'E., with an area of 244 square miles. The country is flat. The
Bhogava river flows through the State, but like some of the smaller
streams it becomes brackish in the hot season. The climate of
Limbdi, though hot, is healthy. The temperature ranges between a
maximum of i r4° and a minimum of 46°. The annual rainfall averages
25 to 30 inches.
The Limbdi house is sprung from Harpaldeo, who was also the an-
cestor of the Dhrangadhra house. Harpaldeo had three sons, the eldest
of whom was the founder of the house of Dhrangadhra ; the second
was Manguji, the founder of the house of Limbdi ; the third received
Sachana and Chor Vadodra. The chief executed the usual engage
ments in 1807. The succession follows the rule of primogeniture, and
the family holds a sanad authorizing adoption. The chief is entitled
to a salute of 9 guns, and his official title is Thakur Sahib. The late
chief, who died in r907, had been created a K.C.I.E. in 1887.
The population at the last four enumerations was : (1872) 40,186,
(1881) 43,063, (1891) 48,176, and (1901) 31,287, showing a decrease of
35 per cent. in the last decade, owing to the famine of 1899-i9oo.
In 1901 Hindus numbered 24,001, Muhammadans 2,982, and Jains
4,296. The State contains one town, LIM$DI, the capital, and 46
villages, and supports 91 persons per square mile.
The soil, in some parts black and others red, is largely composed of
sand. In 1903-4 the area under cultivation was returned at 87 square
miles. There was practically no irrigation. The territory of Limbdi is
peculiarly liable to inundations, and suffered severely from this calamity
in_ the years 1878-9 and 1899-19oo. Cotton and grain are exten-
sively cultivated, and coarse cloth is manufactured. The State has
one cotton-ginning factory. Agricultural produce, which was formerly
exported from Dholera, is now carried by the Bhavnagar-Wad'hwan
Railway.
Limbdi ranks as a second-class State in KathlawAr. The chief has
power to try his own subjects for capital offences. The revenue in
1903-4 was about 2 lakhs, chiefly derived from land (Q lakhs).
Revenue is collected in cash in all but four villages, in which a share
of the produce is taken. No transit dues are levied. A tribute of
Rs. 45,534 is paid jointly to the British Government and the Nawab
of Junagarb. The. only municipality is Limbdi. The chief maintains -
a military force of 77 men, of whom 27 are mounted. There is also
an armed police force of 74 men. There is one jail, with a daily
average (1903-4) of 13 Prisoners. The State had 17 schools in 1903-4,
with a total of 1,447 pupils. One dispensary is maintained, which
treated 6,212 patients. In 1903-4 the number of persons vaccinated
was 680.
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