;z lo ". L ITN1 VJDA STATE
the east by Sunth and Kadana States of Rewa; Kantha ; on the south
by the Godhra tdluka of the District. of the Pinch Mahals ; and on
the west by Idar State (Mahi Kantha) and Balasinor State (Rewa
Kantha). Lunavida is irregular in shape; and has many outlying
villages, the territory being much intermixed with that of Bfilasinor
and with the British Pinch _Mahals. The extreme length from north
-to south is 34 -miles, and the extreme breadth from east to west 25
miles.. The.Mahl flows through it. The climate is somewhat cooler
than in the neighbouring parts of Gujarat.
The chief is descended from a Rajput dynasty that ruled at Anhil-
vada Patan, and his ancestors are said 'to have established themselves
'at V3rpur in 1225. In 1434 the family removed to Lunavida, having
in all probability been driven across he Mahi by the increasing power
of the Muhammadan kings of Gujarat. Lunavida was tributary both
to the Gaikwar and to Sindhia; the rights of the latter ruler, guaranteed
by the British Government in 1819, were transferred by him with the
cession of the Pinch Mahals in 1861. Until 1825 the State was under
the Political Agency of Mahi Kantha.. The chief (Maharani)- is -a
Hindu of the Solanki Rajput caste, and is entitled to a salute of nine
guns. The family hold a sanad authorizing adoption, and they follow
:the rule of primogeniture.
The population at the last four enumerations was: (1872) 74,8x3,
-(1881) 75,450, (1892) 90,147,.and (1go1) 63,967, showing a decrease
during the last decade of 28 per cent., due to the famine of 1899-
a goo. The State contains one town (LvNnVADA) and 318 villages.
-Hindus number 59,876 and Muhammadans 3,75r ; the density of
.population is 165 persons to the square mile. The chief castes are
Brahman, Rajput, and Kunbl. About one-third of the area of the
State has been alienated, some lands having been granted in, free gift,
and others on service or other tenures. About 231 square miles are
occupied for cultivation, of which 159 were cultivated in 1903-4.
The soil is generally stony. Cereals and timber are the chief pro-
ducts. In 1903-4 exports, consisting chiefly of grain, oil, and ghl;
;amounted to 3 lakhs ; and imports, consisting of cloth, grain,, and
sugar, to about the same amount. Irrigation is chiefly t?rom- lls;
though there are many reservoirs. A well-frequented route between
Gujarat and Malwa passes through Lunavida.
The, chief has power to try his own subjects for'capital offences.
-He enjoys a revenue of about 1•8 lakhs, chiefly derived from land
' (Rs. 1,25,ooo), and pays a tribute of Rs. 14,232 jointly to the British
Government and the Gaikwar of Baroda. There is. one municipality
.(Li1navada) with an income in 1903-4 of RS. 2,776. The police force
:consists of 177 men, including a military; body of 43, who are employed
for.police and revenue purposes. There, is one jail. In zgo3-4 the
|
![[Digital South Asia Library]](/graphics/thirdlevel.gif)
