Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924024153987).pdf/553

 FYZ

475

the possession of the family which had gained it by such foul means. The guilty were punished, hut their children kept the spoils. Further details about the Bachgotis and Eajkumars will be found in the pargana histories.

No

less

than 22 of their number are taluqdars of Oudh.

The vicissitudes of each family and clan in this district are not to be further detailed. In time it is to be hoped that materials will be available from which some account of the Bais, Bisen, Chauhdn and Raghubansi can be prepared. Their importance is not to be estimated by their numbers in this district they are powerful across the border, in Jaunpur and Azamgarh. In the latter district the Bais, for instance, number 31,000,* in the former 24,000 in Basti 7,000, in Fyzabad 21,000, while in the adjoining Baiswara they are still more numerous. It can be well understood, then, how great would be the resistance and how strong the illfeeling if any portion of this wide-spread clan conceived itself maltreated. Similarly, the Raghubansi clan is very numerous in the districts bordering on Oudh. To conclude, we may remark that the disturbing causes which have operated upon the distribution of property, and so placed the balance of power in unstable equilibrium, so to speak, are the progress of the Palwars and Rajkumdrs, and the growth of the great Mehdona estate. The court influence and of&cial power which fostered the latter have now been lost the old proprietors who yielded to them still survive in thousands ; and State influence, exercised through a vigilant magistracy, will for many years be required to keep them in check.





At the end of May

1857, the troops in cantonments at Fyzabad consisted 22nd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry, under The mutiny in the command of Colonel Lennox the 6th Regiment IrFyzabad. regular Oudh Infantry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel O'Brien a troop of Irregular Cavalry, and a company of the 7th Battery of Bengal Artillerj', with one horse battery of light field guns, under the command of Major Mill, of the Honourable Company's Artillery. This force was, as usual, stationed in cantonments a short distance from the town and, until the latter part of May, nothing had occurred to excite suspicion of any ill-feeling toward the Europeans, either on the part of the troops or the inhabitants. The Raja, Man Singh, was upon amicable terms with the officers and their families, and mutual confidence appeared of the







to exist.

At length indications of a perturbed spirit among the troops, who had been visited by emissaries from some of the regiments in revolt, became The confidence between the European officers and their men manifest. was shaken. This unpleasant state of affairs commenced several days before any decisive step was taken; but it became daily more and more apparent that an outbreak would be inevitable. Anticipating the crisis, an officer holding civil charge of the Fyzabad district made arrangements with the Rdja, Man Singh, for the protection of the women and children of the station the charge was readily undertaken.

The temper European

~


 * N.

of the troops

officers,

W.

had become excessively embarrassing to their force upon which they could rely

who were without any

P. Census Report,

vol. III.,

pages 636 to 640, 436 to 439, 458 to 462.