Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/227

 RAE 219 CHAPTER V. HISTORY, History - Fights during the matioy-Antiquities, TRE earliest glimpse of authentic history in this district is afforded by Major Orr's discovery in the neighbouring district of Sultanpur of an earthen pot containing several hundred coins of the Indo-Scythic dynasty, which reigned in Kabul before and contemporaneously with the commence- ment of our era. The fact that all the coins belong to the same series makes it nearly certain that the date of their consignment to the receptacle from which they have just been delivered was between 17 and 18 centuries ago. The names Kadphíses and Kanerki, the title Ráo Nána Ráo, and the Mithraie worda "Okro" and "Athro" are distinctly legible; there are other inscriptions which might be explained by an experienced numisma- tologist, Mr. Capper discovered some very fine gold coins of the Skanda Gupta series at Baksar; and besides these the irregularly shaped bits of silver with devices stamped one over the other, and apparently at different times, which were the coin of an unknown period of antiquity, are not un- common, From this it may be inferred that some kind of civilization existed in this district from very early times down to at least the end of the third century A.D., and it is. no wild conjecture that the desolation which we discover when its modern history commences was due to the exterminating wars which marked the revival of Brahmanism. The first piece of local history is connected with Dalmau which appears to have been a flourishing town from early times. On a hill to the north- west of the fort is still shown the tomb of a Muhammadan martyr Badr- ud-din, whose traditional date is 646 H., (1248 A.D.) From an old Hindi story-book which professes to have been copied in 1043 H., from an original composed in 779 I. (1587 A.D.), we loam that Jauna Shab,f the lieute- nant of the Emperor Firoz, had stopped at Dalmau on his way to what was to become Jaunpur, and had beautified the city. It is further stated that Malik Mubarak was the Governor, and that there was a considerable colony of Musalmans, besides a settlement of Chauhans and Sunárs, Malik Mubárak's name is still held in great reverence at Dalmau, and his tomb is shown in the fort. The kings of Oudh used to allow a small monthly stipend for the purpose of keeping a light burning on it, and the govern- ment officials when they arrived at the town were expected to pay it a visit before they proceeded to their work. From this it may be inferred that he was the founder of the Musalman settloment, and that before the time of Jauna Shah the town had been entirely Hindu, Towards the end of the fourteenth century the town was in danger from the neighbouring Bhars, who, under the rule of four brothers, had of Rae Bareli,
 * The greater part of the historical portion of this chapter is from Mr. Bevett's Clang
 * Jauna Shah preceded Firoz on the throne of Delhi.