or BARODA, a large and wealthy town of Hindustan, in the province of Guzerat, and the capital of the Mahratta prince, known by the family appellation of the Guicowar. It is intersected by two spacious streets, which divide it into four equal parts, and cross at the marketplace. The houses, built of wood, are generally lofty, with sloping, tiled roofs. Among the principal buildings are the British residency, and the palace of the Guicowar; but these edifices, though of large dimensions, are not of imposing appearance. Outside the town is the British cantonment, consisting of a number of small brick houses, with trellis work and wooden verandahs, and containing a small church built in the Gothic style of architecture, and capable of accommodating 400 persons. Luxuriant groves surround the town; and within these numerous mosques and Mussulman tombs have been erected, giving an impression of solemnity to the scene; and interspersed are some magnificent wells, with architectural decorations, having grand flights of steps descending to the water through rows of stone pillars. The fortifications of the town are of no great strength. They consist of slight walls with towers at irregular distances, and several double gates. The population is estimated at 140,000. The founder of the family of the Guicowar was one of the chiefs of the great Mahratta confederacy, who acknowledged the rajah of Satara, the descendant of Sevajee, as their head. His name was Pelajee Guicowar; and in the year 1721 he had been promoted to be second in command of the Mahratta armies. Shortly after, he built the fort of Soneghur on the banks of the Taptee, and from this stronghold he made predatory excursions, which resulted in the extension of his authority over the province of Guzerat. Pelajee was murdered in 1732, by the Rajpoot, rajah of Jajpore, and succeeded by his son Damajee, who being taken prisoner by the Peishwa, regained his liberty by the sacrifice of one-half of his possessions, and under the acknowledgment that he held the remainder in fief to the Peishwa. Damajee dying in 1768, the succession was disputed between his two sons, and ultimately decided in favour of Syajee the younger, to the exclusion of Govind Rao the elder, who, however, ascended the throne in 1792, upon the death of Syajee. In 1800 the government devolved upon Anmund Rao; and with this prince the British government concluded a treaty, and thereby secured his independence of the Peishwa. Anmund Rao was succeeded in 1819 by Syajee Guicowar, the present ruler, whose revenues are computed at about L668,700 per annum. The military establishment of this prince, in addition to his regular troops, amounting to 6000 cavalry and infantry, comprises also the subsidiary force furnished by the British government, which consists of five regiments of infantry, two regiments of cavalry, and a company of artillery. He also maintains a contingent force of 3000 cavalry, with a corps of irregular horse, commanded by British officers. His dominions, over which the government of India exercise political superintendence, are described in the article Guzerat. The Guicowar has it in contemplation to connect Baroda by railway with Tunkaria, on the coast of the Gulf of Cambay, the intervening distance being about 40 miles. Baroda is distant from Bombay, north 231 miles; from Calcutta, west 980. Lat. 22° 16'. Long. 73° 14'. (E.T.—N.)

BRODICK Bay. See ARIAN.