Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/79

 HAR 71 ordinary description. There are no mines or quarries properly so called. Kankar is found, and from it lime is made to some extent. The pro- ductive powers of the soil are a fair average. The pargana was constituted as such by Todar Mal, and was included in the Khairabad chakla. On the site of the Government tahsildar's fort a school now stands. The pargana derives its name from the town, and the history of the latter is to a great extent the history of the former. In 1712 A.D. a body of Gaur Chhattris under one Singha invaded the district, took the town, and settled in the country round; their descendants, as already stated, still hold five-sixths of it. No remains of historical interest are to be met with, and for the legend connecting the Pandavas with the city of Bairát, Hargám, the reader is referred to the history of that town. To what is recorded there, it may be added that the people of Edun also, in dis- trict Ságar, believe that king Bairát ruled in their town (vide Cer tral Provinces Gazetteer, article "Ságar," where the writer speaks of king Bairát and a tribe called Pándus). HARGÁM Town-Pargana HARGAM—Tahsil SITAPUR— District SITA- PUR.—Hargám, though now in great decay, was apparently once a very extensive city. Its origin is lost in remote antiquity, but local tradition tells us how that it was founded by the mythological Harish Chandar of the Solar dynasty; how it fell away after his deatlı ; how many years after- wards it was renewed by a rája called Bairát; how it again decayed ; and how 19 centuries ago the great Bikramájít again rebuilt it. In 1712 A.D. a tribe of Gaur Chhattris coming from the west attacked and took it, since when it has gradually sunk to its present condition. It lies in 27° 45' north, and 80° 47' east longitude, and is half-way between Kheri and Sitapur on the highroad. A road also connects it with Láharpur, ten miles to the east. There is no water communication to or from it. The population numbers 2,832 in all, the Hindus being about three to every two Muhammadans. Among the former, Brahmans and Joshis (a lower order of Brahmans) abound, and the latter have among them many Jrláhas. There are two bazárs in which nothing but the most ordinary articles are sold, the annual value of the sales being but Rs. 23,212, in which is included the value (Rs. 15,940) of commodities sold at the great mêla in October. This is held at a tank called Surajkund, a structure of very ancient date, and is attended by 40,000 persons. The other sacred places are a mosque and four Hindu temples, none of which requires any notice. There are 419 mud and 138 masonry houses in the town, which also boasts of a school and a registry office. The scholars number 73 in da‘ly attendance. The camping ground is in an exceedingly picturesque spot between the town and the tank abovementioned. On one side near the town is a long jhíl, dear to wild fowl; on the other, overlooking the tank, is a very strik- ing ridge of earth covered with fine trees, under which, on the other side, is a long and narrow lake. The tank itself, with its Shiwála and ruined sbrines, shadowed by mighty trees, the abode of numerous monkeys; tho