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MORVI STATE 3
(6,860), and NER PINGLAI (5,408). The demand for land revenue in
1903-4 was Rs. 5,18,000, and for cesses Rs. 41,000. The taluk lies
chiefly in the fertile valley of the Wardha river, which bounds it on the
east and south-east; but a narrow tract along its north-western border
occupies the lower slopes of the SATPURA HILLS.
Morsi Town.—Head-quarters of the taluk of the same name in
Amraoti District, Berar, situated in 21 0 20' N. and 78 0 4' E. Population
(1901), 8,313. The town contains eight ginning factories and two cottonpresses,
and a Subordinate Judge and a Munsif hold their courts here.
Morvi State.—State in the Kathiawar Political Agency, Bombay,
lying between 22 0 23' and 23 0 6' N. and 70 0 30' and 71 0 3' E., with an
area of 822 square miles. The country is generally flat. The river
Machhu, on which the town of Morvi stands, never runs dry, and is
crossed by a good bridge. The climate near the coast is good, but
fever is common throughout the State. The annual rainfall averages
23 inches.
The Thakur Sahib of Morvi claims to be directly descended from
the Cutch line and not through the Navanagar family. He possesses
a small subdivision in Cutch with a port at Jangi. Many disputes
have arisen with the Rao of Cutch regarding this port and the seaborne
trade. The differences which exist between the two States find
a vent in obstructions offered to the trader. Tradition represents the
chief of Morvi as the descendant of the eldest son of the Rao of Cutch
who, in the latter part of the seventeenth century, was murdered by
a younger brother, and whose family thereupon fled to this place, then
a dependency of Cutch. Their possession of Morvi was subsequently
sanctioned by the Cutch ruler. The chief entered into the same
engagements with the British Government as the other Kathiawar chiefs
in 1807. He holds a sanad authorizing adoption, and the succession
of the house follows the rule of primogeniture. The chief is entitled
to a salute of II guns. The present chief was created a K.C.L.E. in
1887, and subsequently in 1897 a G.C.I.E.
The population at the last four enumerations was: (1872) 90,016,
(1881) 89,964, (1891) 105,335, and (1901) 87,496, showing a decrease
of 17 per cent. during the last decade, owing to the famine of 1899-
1900. In 1901 Hindus numbered 72,443, Musalmans 10,099, and
Jains 4,913. The capital is MORVI TOWN, and there are 140 villages.
Grain, sugar-cane, and cotton are the principal products. The area
cultivated is 345½ square miles, of which 3½ square miles are irrigated.
Irrigation is provided by 4,257 wells and by the Paneli waterworks,
which irrigate 1,208 blghas. A veterinary hospital is maintained; and
horse-breeding is carried on by 14 stallions and 240 mares. Salt and
coarse cotton cloth are manufactured. A cotton-mill, established by
the State a few years ago, has recently been closed ; but a cotton-