Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924024153987).pdf/397

 BIL

S19

Abu Muhammad Chishti (mentioned in the Mira-at-i-Masalidi, quoted at page 525, Elliot's History of India, Volume II). KhwAje Madd-ud-din, say the Shekhs slew the demon Bil by enchantments, and converted numbers of people to the faith of Islam.

In death the demon, says their tradition, entreated that the town might be called by his name, Bilgrdm, or the abode of Bil. This saint used daily to walk across the Ganges to worship at Kanauj, 10 miles off! Another Shekh account attributes the defeat of the Raikwars to Qazi Yusuf, who served, they say, under Sultan Mahmiid. The only noticeable point in this tale is that, according to it, the brother of Raja Sri, in order to save the Raikwar's domain, became a Muhammadan and was named Mukhtar-i-din, and his son Iktidr-i-din. A (muniment) sijil by this Qazi Yusuf, dated 438 H. (A. D. 1146) is said, in the Sharaf Usmani, to be in the possession of the descendants of the Lai Pir of Gopamau.

The extent to which that half of the pargana which has not been absorbed by the Sayyads into their taluqas, has been parcelled out between different clans of Chhattris, and bet^veen Brahmans, Kayaths, and others, suggests the inference that the Raikwar colony at Srinagar had either been unable to clear and occupy, or was too weak to retain a large portion of the pargana up to the time of the Muhammadan conquest. The campaign of Shahab-ud-din Ghori in 1193 A. D. and the fall of Kanauj must have shattered the power of the petty rajas on the Hardoi bank of the Ganges, D., Shams-ud-din Altamsh so that when, a generation later, in 1217 poured in his troops to complete the subjugation of the country, only a. Two Muhammadan captains seem feeble resistance can have been mad6. to have reduced Srinagar and the country round it, Shekh Muhammad Faqih of Iraq and Sayyad Muhammad Soghra, ancestor of the taluqdars Of the former the author of " Notes on the races and tribes of Bilgram. " A little later, in the time of Shams-ud-dm of Oudh" writes (page 66) Altamsh, 614 H. (1217 A. D.), Shekh Muhammad Faqih of Iraq with a When he and his followers had made force took possession of Bilgram. themselves secure, they brought their wives and relatives from their native land, so say their descendants now. These Shekhs acquired no estate, but in later times the legal posts of the pargana became heredi-

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tary in their family."

From the Jinudia and Shajra-e-Taibaq family histories of the Bilgrdm Sayyads we learn many facts which possess rather a domestic interest. The Sayyad leader above mentioned was of the same family as the conquerors of Sandi and Unao. We may pass to the great battle fought here between the rival claimants for the Delhi throne in 1540 A. D. HumaNeither army ylin's army is stated at 90,000, Sher Khan's at 60,000. was eager to attack. At length Muhammad Sultan, the pardoned rebel of Kanauj and Bilgram, again deserted his master. His example was largely Humdyun was forced to throw a bridge of boats over the followed. Ganges and crossed. A general action ensued, and Humaytin's army was driven into the river; the emperor fled to Agra, Delhi, Lahore, and Sindh, and Sher Shah mounted the throne of Delhi. In his short but brilliant, reign of five years (1540-1545) he reformed the administration of the country to an extraordinary extent. "He is said to have divided all Hindustan"