Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924024153987).pdf/354

 — BEH

278:

15 feet in diameter, and a ruined tank called Rdmkund, are still to Tradition says that Raja Jai Chand of Kanauj deputed Mahd Singh, Gaur of Narkanjari, and Kuber Sah, Gaur of Garhganjana near indor, to collect annual tribute from the Thatheras in what are now parganas Bawan and Sara. For three years these crafty Gaurs received the tribute, but instead of remitting it to Kanauj, represented to the itaja that the Thatheras were rebellious and refused to pay. So a strong force was despatched from Kanauj. The wretched Thatheras were burnt out and put to the sword, and the Gaurs settled down on their lands.

well,

be •

seen.

Another form of the tradition closely resembles that current in the Bangar (see article Bangar). Kuber Sah had gone to Kanauj to deliver the annual tribute. While he was away from home twin sons were born to him. Of these the Brahmans in attendance on the Thathera chief predicted that they would achieve greatness and expel him from his kingdom.

To avert such disaster the Thathera chief ordered the babes to be done away with, and the Brahmans giving out that if Kuber Sih should return and look upon his children's faces he would die, caused them to be buried alive. Hardly had the deed been done when Kuber Sah returned, heard the evil news, and had the babes dug up. Both were still alive. One of them had lost an ej'^e, and was accordingly named Kana (one-eyed). The other was named Anai and Pakhni (lit. " under the wall"). From them are sprung the Kana and Anai (or Pakhni) sub-divisions of the Gaurs. On more than half the pargana the Gaurs have retained their hold till now.

The Am-i-Akbari gives the area of the pargana as 60,063 bighas, and the military force posted in it as consisting of twenty troopers and a thousand few of the Bawan villages have since been added to parganas foot. Barwan and Sandi. There are eleven " dibs" or deserted village sites, all of which are attributed to the Thatheras.

A

BEHTI OR BETI Pargana BihXr— Tahsil KvNDA-^Distrid Partabgarh.

—This

village is beautifully situated on the bank of a large lake covering in the rains about ten square miles to the north is a high bank covered with groves of magnificent trees ; the lake, edged with rich crops and orchards, stretches away to the south, and three miles off flows the Ganges, in the dry bed of whose ancient channel the lake lies. The depth varies from three to eight feet. In 1241 this lake was dry its bed was sown with wheat, and a lac of rupees worth is said to have been the out-turn of



The Government sent down an officer, Harpal Singh, to the grain. attach the proceeds ; in the fight which took place 500 men were killed. In dry weather the area covered with water is 2,810 bighas, or nearly three square miles. It is reported that this lake was dug by the Raja of Ajodhya, as a religious jagg, or votive offering, and burnt grain is still dug up in great quantities from beneath the surface.

An

ancient building exists on an island in the middle of the lake, which celebrated for its wild fowl and fish ; a royal prince built this for a shooting lodge. The population consists of 1,733 persons ; there is one temple to Mahadeo, one to Mahabir, and one to Vishnu,

is