Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924024153987).pdf/143

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Soon afterwards, on their release, they sought for and found the effigy, and carried it off to mauza Chitwan in the Pachhimrath pargana, where they set it up as the ohject of their demestic adoration, and where it is still worshipped by both branches. Hereabouts the Barwars rapidly became very powerful, and in 1227 Fasli they were found in possession of 123 villages 8J biswas 6J chaks, giving a Government revenue of Es. 28,301, whilst the other branch, the Ghahus, held 36 villages 5 J biswas paying a revenue of Es. 5,900. This vast estate, acquired chiefly vi et urniis, and partly by purchase, afterward within the short space of ten years, i. e., between 1230 Fasli and 1239 Fasli, with the sole exception of about two villages, passed away from the Barwars, and became incorporate with taluqas Pirpur, Dera, Kurwar, and Mahdona. The Barwars as a rule are now very badly off, though the chiefs Dalthamman Singh and Nadir Sah have retained one or two villages in the Basti district.

Another account of the Barwars, and given by Dalthamman Singh himself,

is

as follows



The family is an off-shoot of the great Bais clan, and some hundreds of years ago came from mauza Mungipatan alias Pathanpur south-west of Jaipur, where their Eaja Salbahan had a fort.

They settled at mauza Chitwan Kariq,, six miles south of Begamganj. The Bhars held the country in those days, and had a stronghold at Tikri, This the Barwars besieged, took, and razed to the ground and upon the ruins thereof they founded a village, and called it Diroa. By degrees the Barwdrs acquired a considerable estate, which they called taluqa Tandauli, and which the king of Delhi granted to them rent-free on account of military services rendered by the family. ,

The story of this military service is somewhat similar to the old legend of the battle of the Horatii and Guriatii, when the armies of Eome and Alba met. It is as follows

The king of Kanauj had a beautiful queen named Padmani, the fame of whose charms reached the ears of the emperor of Delhi and inflamed his Ten of the Barwars, who were amongst the bravest a,nd most desires. heroic of the monarch's soldiers, volunteered to go and carry off the fair Furnished with a boat, provisions, arms, and money, they arrived lady. at Kanauj, surprised the queen as she was bathing and conveyed her to Great was the consternation, and a large army set off in purtheir boat. suit. By keeping the middle of the stream the Barwars managed to escape attack, but so soon as they had to leave the river and journey by land, the whole army was upon them. The Barwars were said to have been almost invulnerable heroes and of surpassing strength. As the army came up, one of the brothers turned, and single-handed engaged and checked the whole host whilst the other nine sped on with their prize. The contest ended after a time with the death of the heroic Barwar. The army again hurried after the fugitives, when another hero (Sawant) turned round, and devoted himself after the manner of the first one, slaughtering numbers of the enemy before he himself fell. In this way eight out of the ten Sawants fought and died, and by their so doing, enabled the two surviving heroes to enter Delhi with their lovely prize.

The king, astounded at

this display of