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284
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1874.
and besought the deity to grant him sons. He married again when fifty years of age, and begat four sons :-(1) Mahadev (so named out of gratitude to the god), (2) Lakshmidås, (3) Purshotam, (4) Karsanji. His son Mahadev is mentioned in an inscription in the temple of Kalká Måtå at Gogha. This lekh is dated S. 1672, when Dhunaji was reigning at Sihor. Mention is made of Gråsia Akhirâjji. This was probably Dhuninji's second son, who may have held lands near Gogh. The inscription is as follows:
श्रीगणेशायनमः श्रीमहाकालि महालक्ष्मी महासरस्वती प्रसादा स्वस्ती श्रीजयामंगलाभयोदये श्रीपातशाह श्रीमणीहोत्र शाह श्रीसलेमशाह विजयराज अवं श्रीगोपापालं अमल हथालीवजीरखात श्रीकासमखात, तवरणशेवक थोभण, शेठ श्रीउधवदास काजीशाह महमद गराशीया राजश्री अखेराजजी; देसाई श्रीमहासोमजी तथा विठल, आहमीर वहोरा वीसा कल्याण TOT wat war : THùatt toft लिख्यते संवत् १६७२ वर्षे संवत शालीवाहन शाके १५३७ 49 T4 Taft sæt fra en महामासे शुक्रपक्षे दशमियायां तीथी गुरूवासरे। अत्र दीने श्रीमंगलराताय सोनीवेजानं सुत सोनी- हरदास तस्य भार्या गाई कीकिकेत्यरंय प्रसादस्थापीता; बाईकीकि,माता बाई विरवाई पीता सोनीराम, भान सोनी थोभण। अस्मीन् प्रासादे हथषतने संक्षांनी जयशाई १६०७ सोळशेसात एतत साक्षीप्रमाण अस्मीन् प्रासादे श्रेष्ठपार्षाणसेवकोस्मी श्रीरस्तु।लेखकवाचक्यो कल्याणं ॥
"Adoration to Sri Ganesh. We invoke the grace of Sri Mah Káli, Mahi Lakshmi, Maha Sarasvati, from whom happiness, success, progperity, and good fortune proceed. In the reign of Pådishâh Sri Manihotra Shah Sri Salim Shah, protector of Sri Goghî. Vazir Khật Śri Kasam Khat being in charge of the Government, His servant Thobhan. Sheth Sri Udhavdas, Kazi Shâh Mahmad, Gråsiâ Raj Sri Akherajji, Desai Sri Maha Somji, and Vithal Amîr Vahorà Visa Kalyan, the heads of such families being in existence, and in their presence, this stone was inscribed. In the Samvat year 1672 and Salivahana Sake 1587, when the sun was in the tropic of Capricorn, during the cold season, on Thursday, the 10th day of the bright half of the auspicious month of Magba. On this day Bải Kiki, wife of Soni Hardas son of Soni Veja, of good intelligence, established this temple. Her mother was Bải Virbài, her father Soni Rám, her brother Soni Thobhan. In constructing this temple 1607 Jamshái (koris) were expended. In witness thereof are the excellent stones of this temple. May Sri (Lakhshmi) look favourably
on me her adorer (i.e. the engraver), and may peace rest on the writer and reader of this inscription !"
Bhâosinghji founded the present city of Bhâonagar on the site of the ancient Wadawa in A.D. 1723. At this time Desai Surji II. was alive, and was one of the leading politicians of this part of Saurashtra, and mediated between Bhâosinghji, the Nawab of Surat, the Ahmadabâd Subah, the Marâthâs, and the Junagadh Faujdárs. Desai Surji assisted Bhâosinghji in the founding of Bháonagar, and managed at the same time to obtain a grant of certain rights in that port. Bhâosinghji, however, was apprehensive of Surji's influence, and, though outwardly friendly to him, determined to get rid of him on the first opportunity. Bhâosinghji accordingly entertained Surji and others at a feast given by him near the Châdika Dhår, near Bhâonagar; on this occasion (it is said) poison was mixed in Surji's food, so that he died immediately after eating. Bhâosinghji now plundered Surji Desai's house, and obtained possession of all his papers. In 1731 the Peshwå defeated Trimbak Râo Dhåbåre, Då måji Gåekwad, and other chieftains, and obtained a cession of half of the revenue of Gujaråt, while in 1729 he had obtained from Sarbuland Khân, the imperial viceroy, the cession of the chauth and sardesmukhi of Gujarat. In the division of Gujarat with Damaji, the port of Gogha and the Goghåbarah fell to the Peshwa's sbare. Náhânå Desai, therefore, taking with him Surji's son Waghji, repaired to the Peshwa's court at Puņâ, and entreated the Peshwa to redress his wrongs. Nâhânâ Desai died shortly afterwards, but Waghji obtained a renewal of the sanads, and other rights destroyed by Bhâosinghji, under the Peshwa's great seal, and also obtained orders on the Peshwa's representative at Ahmadabad and the Kamnáviádâr of Gogha to ensure his rights being respected, and established his power on so firm a basis that Bhảosinghji was utterly unable to encroach. Wåghji died in 1786, leaving two sons, Rapji and Somji II. The Bhâonagar Darbár, ever anxious to extend their influence, finding that during Wagbji's lifetime they could do nothing, now offered the post of Divân to Rapji. Rupji accepted, and, unlike his father, did all that he could to extend the Bhâonagar influence, and to lessen that of the Peshwa and Gåekway. During Rupji's
