Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/261

 RAE 253 “In the middle of the night we were suddenly awakened by a scream, followed by the thud of the hoofs of horses galloping about. We all supposed that the enemy's cavalry had broken in upon us favoured by the darkness, and a general commotion took place. A bullock-driver was killed, and Captain Gibbon * of the artillery was twire knocked down, finally wounding himself accidentally with his revolver. The Rifles also set to work in grim earnest, every one fighting against his neighbour, and breaking each others heads with the butt-ends of their rifles. Fortunately at the time none happened to be loaded, or the loss would have been serious. As it turned out, ten or twelve men were sent to hospital. The alarm had been caused by a snake creeping over the face of a Madras sepoy, who, terror-stricken, started up with a scream. The confusion was then increased by several of our horses breaking loose and galloping about. and yet the Government of India have never had strength of mind to alter the system, though it has been denounced over and over again by every one competent to judge.”—Pages 273-275," The Sepoy War." Antiquities. This district, as will be gathered from the historical sketch, presents many objects of interest to the antiquarian. The principal are found in the towns of Rae Bareli, Dalmau, and Jáis. The forts of Rae Bareli and Dalmau are supposed to have belonged to the ancient Bhar chiefs, Dál and Bál, after whom they are named. The former is a vast quadrangular structure consisting of a high earthen mound which has been faced with brick. The gate is composed of huge bricks eighteen inches long by twelve thick; in one corner is a hóoli, a vast well about 35 feet in diameter, the sides have fallen in, but a good portion is still perfect, and it still contains water. In the interior are various buildings of no interest. The only local superstition appears to be the adoration of the manes of a poor Teli and his wife, who it is alleged were bricked up in the wall by the cruel barbarian Bhar chief who found his foundation giving way, and was told that they would not stand firm till a couple of Hindus were sacrificed. The legend is interesting as evidencing the popular belief that the Bhars were pot of Arian descent. There are no distinct traces of Buddhist origin about the fort except the bricks which probably belonged to some local shrine. Unlike the Dalmau fort, there is no elevated plateau inside. There is a ditch outside, and the original design of the work is obviously for military purposes, of course it is possible that some prior structure may have been embraced in the circumvallation. Jáis is separately described. The fort at Dalmau is an object of much more interest from several points of view. It is an irregular. quadrangle with its base on the river forming one of the long sides; it might be more correctly described perhaps as shaped like a javelin head, with its point to the south-east, one • Now Colonel Gibbon, C.B.
 * The discomfort of having entire horses on a campaign is not to be told;