5838.] 



-Description of ihe Valley of Sondur, 



141 



ever may be the question of riglit, there can be none of possession. 

 Sheo (Siva) Row has held it during the long period of twenty-one 

 years. He was in fact an independent prince, by the same right lhat 

 so many other Mahratta chiefs have become so. He was independent 

 before the treaty of Bassein, and can hardly, therefore, be included 

 among the refractory vassals whom the British Government are bound 

 by that treaty to reduce, any more than many other greater vassals, 

 who had before that time shaken off their allegiance to the Peishwa." 



Sir T. Munro, with the sympathy and generosity that ever distin- 

 guished him, when he became Governor of Madras did not forget his 

 eld friend's claims, and accordingly we find that the jaghire of Sondur 

 was finally conferred (7th July 1826) on Siva Row Ghorpara, him and 

 hig heirs for ever, free of Pesh-kush and pecuniary demands. The en- 

 tire management of the revenue and police, and the right of adminis- 

 tering civil justice were guaranteed to him on the following conditions, 

 viz. that be shou^ maintain at all timefe faith and allegiance to the 

 Honourable Company— their enemies to be his enemies, and their 

 friends to be his friends ; that he should assist the Honourable Compa- 

 rjy to the utmost of his power against foreign and domestic foes; to 

 maintain a strict watch over the public peace in the jaghire; not to 

 afford an asylum to ofl'enders from the Company's district, but to de- 

 liver them up, or assist the Company's officers sent in pursuit of them; 

 to cause Justice to be rendered to inhabitants of the Company's dis- 

 trict, and others who might have pecuniary claims on any of the in- 

 habitants of Sondur ; to hold himself responsible to the Honourable 

 Company for the good Government of the jaghire ; and should it ap- 

 pear that in consequence of his mis-government it be found necessary 

 to interfere, then the Governor of Madras in Council is to take such 

 measures as may appear just and proper for restoring order and pro- 

 viding for the security of the people. Such are the conditions on 

 which Sondur is now held. The conduct of Siva Row during his ad- 

 ministration of the jaghire has I believe been exemplary. He is 

 about 50 years of age, spare in person, of middle height and dark 

 complexion. He has two children, both girls. His nephew is the heir- 

 apparent. 



Chiefs house and the town o/Sondur.^The chief's house is situated in 

 the town of Sondur, near the middle of the valley, between the Bima- 

 gundi and Oblagundi passes, on the banks of the Narihulla. It has no 

 pretensions to the title of a palace or mahal. A narrow entrance 

 leads from the confined street into the usual Hindu open quadrangle, 



