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 SIT 383 CHAPTER V. HISTORY Early history of the taluqdars-Family histories of the landed proprietors-Events of the mutiny. Early history and present property of the clans.— The following brief history of the taluqdars of this district was compiled in 1865. Further details concerning each family will be found under the pargana in which it resides. A few general remarks may be made concerning the present distribu- tion of property in the district among the clans, and their earlier history. To the east the Raikwárs occupy most of the country between the Chauka and Kauriála, north and south Kundri, forming part of the block of territory extending north and south about sixty miles along both sides of the Kauriala, over which for one or two centuries the Railwars have exercised a real or nominal supremacy. The great cstates of Baundi and Rámnagar are fully described under articles Bahraich and Bhitauli; here it need only be stated that the younger branches of the clap settled at Mallápur, at Chablári, and Rámpur-all on the western bank of the Kau- riála. The ancestor of each branch got three or four villages, and has gradually increased his possessions through the aid and influence of the great lords of his blood in Baundi and Rámnagar. The estate of Chahlári was forfeited after the mutiny for rebellion. The clan is a very small one in point of numbers. To the north in parganas Sitapur, Láharpur, Hargám, Chandra, and Tambaur, the great Bamhan Gaur clan from Nárkanjari settled itself towards the close of Alamgir's reign. It was a resolute and warlike body of mon. It commenced by attacking the Abbans and the Janwars of Kheri which were driven into exile about A.D. 1760. The Gaurs then pro- ceeded further to the north-west having meanwhile consolidated their power in Sitapur and Láharpur; they attacked the Musalman raja of Muhamdi, defeated and drove him out. At length the Rohillas came to the aid of the raja and drove back the Gaurs with heavy loss; the last battle was fought at Mailiini, twenty miles north of Kukra, so far had the Gaurs carried their victorious arms. They then joined with the Rája of Dhaurahra in resisting Názim Sital Parshád, the most sanguinary of all the satraps whom the early Oudh Nawabs let loose upon the conquered coun- try. They were defeated with heavy loss at Dhaurahra; one of their chiefs was beheaded in the river under the fort of Khairigarh, and the clan then settled down into ordinary rustic squires. To the south the Khánzáda farnily of Bilahra, in the Bara Banki district, has within the last seventy years occupied most of the parganas' of Mahmudabad, Sadrpur, besides acquiring large estates in Biswán, by mortgage or simply as trustee. This family has generally numbered among its members men of ability and energy; they were connected by marriage with the influential Shekhzadas of Lucknow, and were used by the Lucknow court as a check upon the great Raikwár ráj along the Gogra, which their principality almost cut in two.