Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/328

 320 SAR inhabited nor so well cultivated as that which we had gone through before (Sándi and Bilgrám). “ The fortress is pretty much like a large saráe, surrounded by a high brick wall, with round towers at the flanks, and two gothic gateways oppo- site to each other. “That by which I entered had a tall iron-studded door like a college, with a small wicket in one leaf; within on each side of the passage was a large arched recess about three feet from the ground where were seated twelve or fifteen men, armed as usual, with one or two guns, and matches lighted, but mostly having bows and arrows; all had swords and shieldsi I passed on through a narrow street of mud houses, some lookiug like warehouses, and the whole having more the air of a place where the peasantry of a small district were accustomed to secure their stores, than the usual residence of any considerable number of people. I went on to the opposite gate, which was supplied with warders in the same way as the previous one, and then entered a little straggling bazar, which, with some scattered huts, completed the hamlet. "A pretty stream winds under the walls of Saromannagar through a beautiful carpet of green wheat interspersed with uoble trees." The quiet beauty of the spot moved the pious Bishop to note:- “It is strange, indeed, how much God has done to bless this land," and how perversely man has seemed bent to render his bounties unavailing." SARWAN_Pargana MATRANWÁN—Tahsil PURWA--District UNAO. This village lies in latitude 26° 36' north, longitude 80°56' east, at a distance of six miles north-east of Purwa, and 26 miles due east of Unao. It is a very old village, and the date of foundation is unknowri. The site is good. There is a school here. The climate is agreeable, and water good. The population amounts to 2,183, of which Hindus amount to 2,067, and Musalmans to 116. Referring to the foundation of the village and the temple of Billesur Mabadeo, Mr. C. A. Elliott gives the following (pp. 5-6, Chronicles of Oonao) - " To worship at this temple and to shoot and hunt in the wild forest country around came Raja Duseruth from Ajoodhia, the father of Ram- chundur, the fifty-seventh Raja of Ajoodhia, in direct descent from its great founder Icshwaca. He was encamped at Sarwara on the edge of a tank. " By night came Surxun, a holy Rishi, from Chounsa (near Ajoodhia); by caste a Bunniah. He was going on pilgrimage, and was carrying his blind father and mother in a Kanwar, * slung over his shoulders. Reach- ing the tank be put his burden down and stopped to drink. Raja Duse-
 * A pair of baskets hung on a bamboo, carried on the shoulder by ait pilgrims in India.