HIS TOR Y
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the supremacy of the Mughals. Throughout the eighteenth century
Sirohi suffered much from wars with jodhpur, and the constant depre
dations of the wild Mina tribes. Rao Udaibhan, who succeeded to
the chiefship in 1808, was returning from performing his father's
funeral obsequies on the banks of the Ganges, when he was seized
by Maharaja Man Singh of jodhpur and forced to pay a ransom of
5 lakhs. To liquidate this sum, Udaibhan levied collections from his
subjects, and so oppressed them that in 1816 he was deposed and
imprisoned by a convocation of the nobles and people of the State,
and his brother Sheo Singh was selected to succeed him. The con
dition of Sirohi was now critical. Many of the Thakurs had thrown
off their allegiance and placed themselves under the protection of
Palanpur, and the State was nigh being dismembered. The jodhpur
chief sent a force to liberate Udaibhan, but the expedition failed, and
in 1817 Sheo Singh sought the protection of the British Government.
The Jodhpur State claimed suzerainty over Sirohi, but after a careful
inquiry this was disallowed, and a treaty was concluded on Septem-
ber 11, 1823. In the fifth article the territory was described as having
`become a perfect desert in consequence of intestine divisions, the
disorderly conduct of the evil-disposed portion of its inhabitants, and
the incursions of predatory tribes.' A Political Agent was appointed,
and the new regime had very beneficial results. The Minas and other
predatory bands were put down, the Thakurs in a great measure reduced
to submission, and a system of government was introduced. These
objects having been attained, the Political Agent was withdrawn in
1832. Sheo Singh's position under the treaty was that of regent only,
but on Udaibhan's death in 1847 he was acknowledged as chief. He did
good service in the Mutiny of 1857 ; and the tribute, which had been
fixed at Rs. 15,000 in the local coinage, was reduced by one-half. In
1868 the tribute was converted to Rs. 6,881-4-o British currency.
Sheo Singh died in 1862, and was succeeded by his son, Umed Singh.
The principal events of his time were the famine of 1868-9, the
outlawry of the Thakur of Bhatana, and the predatory incursions of
Bhils from the Marwar border. In 1870 the political charge of the
State was transferred from an Assistant to the Governor-General's
Agent to the Commandant of the Erinpura Irregular Force; and the
latter, being vested with special powers, speedily brought the BUS to
order and put down plundering with a strong hand. Umed Singh died
in 1875 and was succeeded by his only son, Kesri Singh, the present
chief, who was invested with full powers in the same year. In 1889 he
received the title of Maharao as a hereditary distinction, and has also
been created a G.C.I.E. and a K.C.S.I. During his rule much has
been done to improve the condition of the State. Crime is less
frequent, and the relations between the Darbar and the Thakurs are
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