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FIE

400

to the north--west the boundary is artificiarl for a few Firozabad lies then between three rivers, and is further intersected by a deep channel of the Dahawar, and by a lateral channel of the Kauriala called the Sont, which breaks off near Ramlok at the northern extremity of the pargana, and after a course of sixteen miles rejoins the Kauriala at Balakipurwa. In addition to these rivers, which give a water frontage of some 200 miles, with deep, and indeed navigable currents, there are many jhils of small size the whole surface of the pargana could easily be irrigated from the Dahawar and the Sont, while water carriage is everywhere within three or four miles. It is hard to say whether Firozabad is entirely of recent alluvial formation or not.

flowing directly south



miles.



There is a well-grounded tradition that the town itself was founded by Firoz Shah Khilji in 1330. This is not mere rumour it is proved by the names still surviving of the ancient tolas into which the city was divided further, ruins of great age still exist.

It appears to me that Firozabad was then an island in the middle of a, waste swampy thicket celebrated for game, skirted by the Kauriala and Chauka. It was a part of the district of Garh Qila Nawa, extending on both sides of the Kauriala. I am of impression that the Kauriala and the Chauka were both formerly divided into numerous branches of varying currents and channels. Only in this way can the present features of the country and the many contradictory traditions be reconciled. river will, of course,' in time wear for itself a main channel and stick to it, unless tidal action or earth upheaval alter the conditions. Apparently for the larger portion of modern geological time Firozabad is simply the

A

deposit of the rivers natural features.

Chauka and Kauriala. There is little to say, then, of its The Chauka falls more rapidly than the Kauriala,

namely, 50 feet during the twenty miles

it skirts, then, two parganas, therefore its current is more rapid ;,it carries with it heavier particles, and its deposit after the rains consists of more valuable soil than the Kauriala,

which only falls 20 feet in the same distance. The soil towards the Chauka is more fertile. It is generally light and sandy towards the Kauriala,

Water

—

the surface, so close that there is little irrigation, is applied except for garden grounds. The kharif was the principal crop, but the rabi is coming forward rapidly. is

required,

close

to

and none

villages, covering an area of 162 square Which 104 were cultivated at time of survey. Area population. The pargana is twenty-two miles long and ten miles broad. Its popuktion is 57,507, or 355 to the square mile, of whom Brahmans form 10 per cent., Ahirs 11 per cent., Chhattris 2J per cent, Gararias 6 per cent., Muraos 5 per cent., and Lodhs 16 per cent.; the last are the caste feature of the pargana. These ninety-one mauzas are owned entirely by the Eaikwdr taluqdar of MalMpur, and the Jangres Chauhan taluqdar of Isdnagar they hold the pargana in about equal proportions. The old zamindars have very largely disappeared. There are no towns of any size. Isanagar si only a large village. Firozabad is

Firozabad contains ninety-one •

miles, of



separately described.

The level has been gradually raised, as in Dhaurahra, and very little of the pargana is now exposed .to the flood. The soil is principally loam j