52
SITAMA U STATE'
place after which it takes'lits name was founded by a Mina chief, Sataji,
the name Satamau, or village of Sata, having been metamorphosed into
the more orthodox name of Sitamau. The State is situated on the
XiLWai plateau, and its geological conditions, flora, and fauna are the
same as elsewhere in that region. The only stream of importance is
the Chambal, which forms the eastern boundary, and is used as a
source of irrigation.
The Sitamau chief is a Rathor Rajput belonging to the jodhpur
family, and closely related to the Rajas of RATLAM and SAILANA. The
Sitamau State was founded by Kesho Das, a grandson of Ratan Singh
of Ratlam, who in r695 received a sanad (grant) from Aurangzeb con
ferring upon him the parganas of Titroda, Nahargarh, and Alot. Of
these parganas, Nahargarh and Alot were seized by the chiefs of
Gwalior and Dewas respectively, during the Maratha invasion. On the
settlement of Central India, after the Pindari War, Sir John Malcolm
mediated between Daulat', Rao Sindhia and Raja Raj Singh of Sitamau,
and the latter was confirmed in the possession, of his land on paying
a yearly tribute to Sindhia of Rs. 33,000, which in 186o was reduced
to RS. 27,000. For services rendered in the Mutiny of 1857, Raja
Raj Singh received a khilat of RS. 2,000. In 1865 he ceded all land
required for railways free '', of compensation, and in 1881 relinquished his
right to levy transit dues on salt, receiving a sum of Rs. 2,ooo annually
as compensation. He died without issue, and was succeeded by
Bahadur Singh, selected j from another branch of the family by the
British Government, and installed in 1885. The Gwalior Darbar
raised an objection, contending that they should have been consulted,
and also claimed succession dues (nazardna). It was ruled, however,
that Sitamau being a med1~iatized chiefship of the first class, the primary
contention was not tenable, while succession dues were payable to
the British Government only and not to Gwalior. In 1887 Bahadur
Singh abolished all transit dues in his State, except those on opium and
timber. He died in 1898 and was succeeded by Shardul Singh, who
only lived ten months. ~ 'he present chief, Rana Singh, was selected by
Government to succeed l im in 19oo. He is the second son of the
Thakur of Kaehhi-Barodi (see BHOPAWAR AGENCY), and was born in
r88o and educated at thelDaly College at Indore. The ruler bears the
titles of His Highness and Raja, and receives a, salute of 11 guns.
The population of the State has been: (1881) 30,939, (1891) 331307)
and (190x) 23,863. In, the latest year Hindus numbered 21,406,
or 9o per cent. of the total ; Musalmans, 1, 517 ; Jains, 781 ; and
Animists, 159. The density is 68 persons per square -mile. The
population decreased by '28 per cent. during the decade ending 19or.
The State contains one town, SITAMAU (population, 5,877), the capital;
and 89 villages. The principal dialect is Rangri or Malwi, spoken by
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