Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924024153987).pdf/412

 BIS

334.

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The Chdndipur Thdkurdwdra. This was built some 70 years ago by B^ibu Rammanorath Singh, to the sacred memory of Ram Chandar, and other deified individuals, and fairs are held twice a year on the days indicated in the last paragraph, which are attended by from 1,000 to 2,000 persons.

The

Makhdum

Sahib

situated in Rasulpur, formerly a separate village. The history of this man has already been given under the Sayyads of Rasdlpur. His shrine is built on a rising ground which is nearly surrounded by water, and to this spot resort annually thousands of pilgrims from every part of Upper India to be released from their disorders, mental and physical. Legions of devils are here annually said to be cast out, according to the best recognized methods of the exorcist's art, during the month of Aghan, throughout which the fair lasts. Merchandise of every description is brought from Lucknovv, Benares, and other distant places for sale, and a brisk trade is carried on during the gathering.

shrine of

mazra or

off-shoot of

is

mauza Biddhaur, but now a

Sati.—This crime must have been exceedingly prevalent in this pargana at one period, for the neighbourhood of the bazar of Sultanpur is a perfect graveyard of monuments, which are all attributed to former generations of the Banian' caste.

One of these buildings is different from the others, inasmuch that it has a door or opening, and the rest have not. This building, I am told, was visited one evening in the rains of 1865 by a party of Banjaras who encamped close to it, offered living sacrifices, and departed on the morrow, leaving traces of much digging, whence it is affirmed that treasure was known to these people to be concealed, and was removed from there by them. These facts were never reported, nor was any attempt ever made to elucidate this mystery.

BISUHI

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River* District Gonda. ^A small river entering the district from west in the Gonda pargana by Kauchna, a little to the north of the Gonda and Bahraich road. It flows for some way nearly due east, and then taking a southerly bend, after having traversed the whole of the north of the Gonda pargana, forms the boundary between SaduUahnagar and Burhapara on the north, and Manikapur and Babhnipair to the south, finally leaving the district after a winding course of nearly 70 miles at the eastern extremity of Babhnipair, a point 49 miles as the crow flies from the place of its entry. Flowing as it does for the whole of its course through the uparhdr, or central table-land of the district, it is restrained by banks of some feet in height, and drains the whole of the surrounding country without being able to retaliate on the immediate neighbourhood by destructive floods. As long as it remains in the Gonda pargana, its banks have been almost completely cleared, but during its further course it is skirted on both sides by belts of jungle. The jamun trees (Eugenia jwmbolana) grow right across its stream, and would effectually prevent navigation even if its frequent windings, shallows, and narrowness, did not render it impassable for any but the smallest craft.

By Mr. W.

C. Benett,

c. s.,

Assistant Commissioner.