Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/242

 234 RAE Pahár Singh, the rána, emerged from the cloud which had concealed his family since the defeat of his grandfather by Chhabíle Ram at about the same time as Chet Ráe returned from his exile at Panna. With the exception of the name, Mr. Elliot has given a correct account of his disputes with the Ráos of Daundia Khera. After his defeat there he was besieged in his fort at Khajúrgáon by Chet Rúe, who drove liim out, and symbol. ized the destruction of the place by throwing five of its bricks into the Ganges. His descendants were generally in arms either against Govern- ment or their own relations, and their old prestige rendered the acquisition of a taluqa in their case exceptionally rapid. Rấna Raghunáth Singh was engaged in continual wars with his cousin, Beni Madho Bakhsh, whose genius threatened to eclipse the leading house and transfer the title of Rána to Sharikarpur. A ten years' war was ended by the usual compro- mise by which both competitors were awarded the title. In 1843 A.D., Haidar Hearsey on his way to Partabgarh had left a small detachment at Bhítargáon. The rána considered this an unwarrantable interference and burnt the station down, Haidar Hearsey was furiously angry at hearing of this act of impertinence, and was not appeased by the ill-success of the artillery he sent to cbastise the aggressor. He soon arrived in person, and defeating the rána before his new fort at Hájípur, drove him into the old stronghold of Khajúrgáon. Here the besiegers were worthily resisted, and their commander himself pointed the gun which he had slung in the branch of a tree overlooking tħe fortress. Eventually Raghunată Singh escaped to the dense jungles of Náin, and returned to the enjoyment of his estates when the danger had passed. He lived to engage under the English for the largest estates in Baiswara, and was succeeded by his grandson, Rána Shankar Bakhsh. Gaura presents the same picture of continual opposition to the Lucknow Government, of which some details will be given further on. Dín Sáh, on one of the rare occasions when he condescended to appear in the Dal- mau kachahri, drow his sword on the tahsildar and was himself promptly cut down. On the death of his brother, Lál Sáh possessed bimself of bis villages and rapidly acquired an estate. His usurpation of course led to a continual dispute between his descendants and those of his brother, and in 1830 A.D., Inchha Singh, the názim, divided the estate, giving three-fifths to Lál Sáh's representative, and the remainder to Bajrangbali with the name of Narindpur Charhár. From this division it is possible that Lál Sáh was really the elder brother, but Dín Sáh was up to the time of his death cer- tainly the most prominent of the two. Bikramajít, a younger son of Lál Sáh, got the small estate of Khajúri. The character of his clan is illustrated by a story told of him in whicĎ he rivals Mucius Scaevola. Being informed by the názim in kachahri that his assessment was to be raised, he replied by holding up his thumb-a coarse gesture with the same meaning as is expressed in English by extending the fingers from the nose. The incensed official directed that the thumb should be cut off, on which Bikramajít turned to his servant, and taking his betel scissors himself cut off the last joint, threw it in the názim's face, and walked out of the tent.