History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

CHAP. 1] THE GAIKWARS. 7

family till the year 1595, when it passed to Kaikobad, son of Merji Rana, the chief priest of Navsari.

In the year 1714 one Temulji Rastamji Sirvai purchased a large share of the emoluments derived from the office of ‘‘desai.” He was the most distinguished of all the “desais,” and had a natural bent towards the highest form of politics. He placed himself in communication with Pilaji Rao Gaikwar, and induced him to establish “thanas” or posts in the Surat Athavisi. He was also entrusted with the management of the collection of the revenue of the “thanas.” During his Desaiship the Naysari priesthood became greatly divided, and the quarrels among them were frequent, but by judicious awards he gradually established peace and concord among them. His name is still held in the highest veneration at Navsari.

In the year 1800 Mancherji Kharshedji, the grandson of Desai Temulji Rastamji, appears to have made himself very useful to the British authorities, who in that year formed their first connection with Baroda. When Mr. Duncan (Governor of Bombay) visited Surat in order to treat with Govind Rao Gaikwar for an exchange of territory and the cession of the Surat Chouth,* Mancherji was employed in the negotiation, and he exercised much tact and displayed great zeal in tlie performance of the task entrusted to him.

* Chouth, or the fourth part, means the Maratha share of the land revenue.