Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 10 (2nd edition).pdf/138

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126 NABHA TOWN. occurred in 1840, his son, Rájá Debendra Singh, at the time of the first Sikh war in 1845, sympathized with the Sikh invaders, and his conduct in regard to carriage and supplies required from him in accordance with treaty was dilatory and suspicious in the extreme. Previous to the battles of Múdki and Ferozsháh, only 32 camels and 681 maunds of grain were furnished, while after those actions supplies were sent in abundance, and after the final victory of Sobraon the whole resources of the Nábha State were placed at the disposal of the British Government. An official investigation was made into the conduct of the Nábha Chief, with the result that he was deposed and assigned a pension of £5000 a year. His eldest son, Bharpur Singh, was placed in power. At the time of the Mutiny in 1857, this Chief showed distinguished loyalty, and was rewarded by grants of territory to the value of over £10,000, on the usual condition of political and military service at any time of general danger. Rájá Bharpur Singh died in 1863, and was succeeded by his brother, Bhagwan Singh, who died without issue in 1871. By the sanad of May 5, 1860, it was provided that, in a case of failure of male heirs to any one of the three Phulkian houses, a successor should be chosen from among the descendants of Phul, by the two other chiefs and the representative of the British Government. Accordingly Híra Singh, the present Rájá, a jágirdár of Jind, but of the same family as the late ruler, was then selected as his successor. He is a Sikh of the Sidhu Ját tribe, and was born about 1843. The supposed gross revenue of Nábha State in 1883 was £65,000 ; principal products-sugar, cereals, cotton, and tobacco. The estimated military force, including police, consists of 12 field and 10 other guns, 50 artillerymen, 560 cavalry, and 1250 infantry. A nasarána is payable to the British Government on the succession of collaterals to the Chiefship, and the Chief is bound to execute justice and promote the welfare of his subjects; to prevent sati, slavery, and female infanticide ; to co-operate with the British Government against an enemy; to furnish supplies to troops; and to grant, free of expense, land required for railroads and imperial lines of road. On the other hand, he is guaranteed by the Government in full and unreserved possession of his territory, and he has also powers of life and death over his subjects. In the succession to the Chiefship the rule of primogeniture holds. The Rájá of Nábha is entitled to a salute of u guns. Nábha.--Chief town and capital of Nábha State, Punjab, and residence of the Rájá. Population (1881) 17,116, namely, Hindus, 8351; Muhamınadans, 6090; Sikhs, 2526 ; Jains, 147; and Christians, 2. Number of houses, 3246. Nábha town is the only place of any importance in the State.