Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/408

 400 MAG The total area, 56 square miles, supports a scanty and often sickly popu lation of 9,949, of which 22 per cent are Abírs. The rate to the square mile is 178, or, cxcluding the forest tracts, 203. The inhabitants find a livelihood in agricultural or pastoral pursuits; there are no manufactures of importance and 10 noteworthy markets or fairs. The prevailing unhealthiness is attributed to poison engendered in air and water by the jungle of the Kathna valley. The history of Magdapur is involved in that of Barwar, of which paryana it formed part until the most recent settlement. The earliest proprietors, who have been clearly identified, wore the Bachhil Chhattris--a clan which became troublesome not long after the death of the Emperor Shah Jahan, and was reduced by the Sayyads of Piháni. The sway of the latter fainily endured till 1147 Hijri (A. D. 1730), when a converted Hindu client, Baldco Singh, alius Ibídulla, ousted his patrons and seized the whole estate. His grandson, Ghulam Nabi, failing to meet the revenue deinand of a now stro Government, was arrested iu 1190 fasli (A.D. 1783), and died in Lucknow. Mansa flám, Chakladar, who arrived in 1193 fasli (A.D. 1786), restored the descendants of the old Bachhil proprietors, and during seventy years there was no taluqdar in Magdapur. In 1851 A.])., however, Rája Aslıraf Ali, the representative of Ibádulla, accepted a farm. ing lease of most of the villages--a truly fortunate engagement, for, at annexation under the operation of British policy, he was recognized as sole proprietor. Subsequently his son's estate became encumbered, and is now under the management of the Deputy Commissioner of the district. Magdapur comprises 34 demarcated villages- viz., 26} taluqdari and 7} the property of smaller owners, yielding at present (1875-76) a revenue of Rs. 12,483. The jungle along the bank of the Kathna was granted in allotments by the British Government to private individuals, whose capital, however, proved inadequate to the difficulties presented by mala- ria and scarcity of labour. The grants have in great part been resumed under the waste land rules, and converted to reserved forest tracts. MAGRAYAR Pargana—Tuhsil PURWA_District UNAO. --This pargana is bounded on the north by pargana Purwa, on the east by Panhan and Pátan, on the south by Ghátampur, and on the west by Harha. In shape it is triangular, eight miles in length from east to west, and seven in breadth from north to south. The area is 31 sqnare miles or 19,484 acres. The soil is in the proportion of six-sevenths loam to about one-seventh clay, sand being scarcely anywhere found. The proportion of irrigated to unirrigated land is as š to l. The river Lon from the neighbour- hood of Unao passes through this pargana. It does, however, no good as the depth of its channel cut in the sandy ground renders the water unavailable for irrigation ; no water remains in it during the spring harvest time. Water is found on an average at the depth of 22 feet, A road from Rae Bareli to Cawnpore passes through this pargana. There are 4 markets—Miánganj, Magráyar, Bigahpur Kalán, and Lalganj, The first is beld on Sundays and Wednesdays, the second on Mondays and .. Thursdays, the third on Tuesdays and Fridays, and the fourth on Wed-