Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/471

 MAN 463 a reverse, as they were obliged to retire without having fully accomplished their object, and with one of their Generals Left dead on the field. This action probably took place on the land (formerly a part of Mánikpur, but) now known as mauza Chaukápárpur, and the tomb of Malik Qutúb Hai- dar is still pointed out. Flight of Jui Chand and Mánik Chand. From the archives of the Mánda family, it appears that Jai Chand and Mánik Chand fled to Kantíth, * a tract of country lying under the Vindya range to the north-east of the Rewa State. We have thus arrived at the period when Mánikpur ceased to belong to the Hindus, and when it first became a Musalman province. This period was about the end of the year 590 Hijri (1194 A.D.). Mánik- pur may be stated to be one of the carliest, if not the earliest, Muhani- madan settlement in Oudh. The Dámghánis.- Accompanying the forces of Qutb-ud-din İbák were a sect called Dámghánis. They were Shekhs, and originally came from Dám- ghán, a town in the Ghor country. These Dámghánis were a martial race, and to a great extent furnished the picked troops of the reigning sovereign, After the capture of Karra and Manikpur, Qutb-ud-din íbák måde over the government of the former to his 'Pír,' Sayyad Qutb-ud-dín ;ånd for the better security of the latter against any subsequent attempts on the part of the Hindus to re-take it, he determined to leave it in the hands of his Dámghánis. To secure their due support and maintenance, he made over to them the whole of the Mánikpur estates in jágír (revenue free), After Qutb-ud-din Íbák's death these Dámghánis greatly degenerated, aban- doping themselves to every species of excess and luxury; from being an active and military race they soon became indolent and effeminate. The jágír also was about this time resumed, but they continued in possession of their estates as málguzárs (revenue papers). Many were the houses erected by the Dámghánis, and rapidly did they multiply. The portion of Mánikpur formerly occupied by them is now known as Chaukapárpur, and has been constituted into a separate mauza (township). The old site of the Dámgháni shows the extensive area which was at one time their possession. There are still numerous ruins of handsome masoury buildings and spacious tombs. At the same time much has been cleared away, and the ground brought under the plough. It was at the close of the reign of Muhaminad Tughlaq (A.D. 1348-49) that the power of the Dámghánis was at its summit. After this period it rapidly waned, as will be described hereafter, following the due course of events. State of affairs at the close the 12th century.-"At the close of the twelfth century, the Ganges," writes Elphinstone," " had long ceased to be an obstacle to the ambitious designs of Shaháb-ud-dín. At this very period Qutb-ud-din was waited on by Mubammad Bakhtiár Khilji, who had already conquered part of Oudh and north Behár." estates of Mánda, Barankhar, Deya] [Saktisgarh, Bijaipur] and [Kera Mongrox] Allahabad. Mirzapur. Benares
 * Pargana Kantith, in the Mirzapur district. Iláca Kantith formerly included the