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 ;

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BIL

316

More than half the pargana Gaura Eaikwars Katehrias

held by Sayyads who own 64 villages, Shekhs and Pathans each hold one only, Chhattris own 27, Brahmans 9, others 10, Government 2, as noted naarginally.

is

Tiwaris

Dubes Cliaubes Miara Sukuls

58 J of the villages are taluqdari, 34J zamindari, 21 pattidari. Kaghubanaia The Government demand, excluding Total Chandels cesses, is Es. 74,689, a rise of 34 per cent, Kayaths Total 27 8 on the summary assessment. It falls at Aliirs 1 1-11-3 per cultivated acre Re. 0-15-11 Re. 1 Bhata per acre of total area ; Rs. 14-12-9 per Total 10 plough Re. 1-15-8 per head of agricultural, and Re. 1-5-3 per head of total population. Government There are 481 inhabitants to the square Of these, Hindus mile, a total of 56,244. to Muhammadans are 49,163 to 7,081 ; males to females 29,900 to 26,344, seventh of the and agriculturists to non-agriculturists 37,716 to 18,628. Brahmans are rather total population are Chamars Ahirs are a ninth less than a tenth ; Muraos are numerous (4,159); Chhattris only 3,173 Sayyads, Shekhs, and Pathdns from 1,000 to 1,600 each. Bachhils Bais



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The only market Fridays.

is

held at Kifayatganj, near Bilgram, on Tuesdays and

At Bilgram Khas there is an Anglo-vernacular tahsil school (pupils 154). Village schools have been established at Durgaganj (40), Sadrpur (30), Jarauli (38), andBehta(35). At Jarauli there is also a female school (20).

On

the last day of Kdrtik from 40,000 to 50,000 Hindus bathe in the at Neoraghat, and again on the 10th of light half of Jeth. A very successful mela has been established during the last nine years at Bilgram itself on the occasion of the Ramlila festival ; some 60,000 people attend it.

Ganges

The pargana was formed in the time of Akbar, and is mentioned in the Ain-i-Akbari as covering 192,800 bighas and paying a revenue of 51,24,113 dams, and 3,56,690 dams of cesses as being held by Sayyads, and garrisoned by 1,000 foot soldiers and 20 troopers, lodged in a masonry fort. It then belonged to Sark^r Lucknow, and included what is now pargana Bangar. In 1215 F. (1807 A. D.) the contumacy of the Bangar zamindars made it necessary to make Bangar into a separate pargana. It and Bilgram were then transfered from the Lucknow to the Khairabad sarkdr.

The

history of the pargana prior to the thirteenth century is obscure. The earliest event known to local tradition is that BaHiatory. -^^ Rama, brother of Krishna, at the intercession of the holy Rishis of Nimsdr, on the Gumti, slew a demon (dano) named Bil or Bilhs, who dwelt in a lone spot where now stands the town of Bilgram, and used to persecute the worshippers at Mmsar.

Bhopat Krit ( stanzas 78 and 79, Canto X) Sagar. In it the danava or demon is called, not Bil, but Ildl born of BiMl. Bala Rama, brother of Krishna, accompanied by Brahmans, was making a tour of the holy places of the land. And he

The legend

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told in the

its translation,

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