Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/393

 SIT 383 taluqdar's list. Practically this is now no loss to them, and in some res- pects is an advantage. Antiquity of the clans. - About the origin or antiquity of these clans little need be said. The Bais are not Tilokchaudi at all, and the asser- tion of the taluqdars to that effect is in defiance not only of the statement of the admitted"descendants of the great Baiswara chief but is opposed to all chronology. For instance, they make Todar Mal a contemporary of Tilok Chand's, although the latter died in the reign of Bábar, The Bais really belong to the very bumerous clan of Kath Bais, whose power seems to have contered in Kursi pargana and Gundwa pargana of the Lucknow and Hardoi districts; these are only separated from the Bais colony in Bári and Pirnagar by the Bachhil intruders of Gundlamau. These Bais are probably some aboriginal tribe which assumed the title of Rajput after the break-up of the Buddhist system. The rájas and ráos of Bais- wára deny that they have any, even illegitimate, connexion with them- selves, or are in any way descended from Sálbáhan, the great ancestor of the Tilokchandis. The Janwárs are also probably aboriginal. The Raghu- bansis allege a descent from the former rulers of Ajodhya ; they possibly are of the Súrajbans blood; they bad four large estates each of 44 villages in pargana Kundri, but have none now. The Káyaths allege very old tenures in Biswán and Sadrpur, but their statements are not confirmed. Janwar Chhattric.—Kálka Bakhsh, of Rámkot, pargana Rámkot. The family which this gentleman represents has, it is said, lived in Rám- kot for some 300 years. Its early history is obscure. The immediate predecessor of Kálka Bakhsh, Hardco Bakhsh, distinguisiied himself by profuse expenditure on works of public utility. A very fine tank at Rám- kot, and the long and fine avenues of trees upon all public roads converg- ing on the village, still attest his great liberality. Kálka Bakhsh was a foundling, and Hardeo Bakhsh baving no hoir adopted him as his son. Subsequently, and contrary to his expectations, a son was born to him. The adopted son succeeded to the estate on his father's death, and took the management while the son was a minor. The latter holds half the estate under his adopted brother. Kalka Bakhsh, in the rebellion of 1857, received into his fcrt a British officer who escaped from the massacre at Sitapur, and forwarded him on towards Lucknow where he arrived safely. An ostate of the annual rental of Rs. 1,000 was conferred upon him by Government for this act of loyalty. Gaur Chhattris, Pargana Liharpur... (1).-Thákur Shiu Bhaksh Singh, of Katesar. (2).-Thákur Beni Singh, of Kánhmau, (3). -Thákur Shiu Bakhsh Singh, of Bihat. -Fazl Ali Khan, of Akbarpur. -Bahadur Singh, of Keshopur. (6).-Munnu Singh, of Barchta. These six gentlemen and a large number of smaller landholders in the Sitapur district date their family history from their ancestor Chandar 49