Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 10 (2nd edition).pdf/210



f 11 198 NANPARA TOWN. portion lics high, and forms part of the watershed of the two river systems of the Rápts and the Gogra. The western half is a portion of the basin of the latter river and its affluent the Sarju, and has been furrowed in all directions by old beds of these streams in their wanderings over the country. This section is peculiarly fertile, having a rich yet light alluvial soil, which requires no irrigation and but little labour to yield the finest crops. The paryani is not so well wooded as its neighbours to the south, only 1971 per cent. being grove land. The proximity of the jungle tracts, however, in some degree compensates for this drawback. There is an inmense proportion of cultivable waste land, which covers 213 square miles, as compared with 257 square miles of cultivation, in a total area of 523 square miles. Irrigation there is none, except in the higher villages to the east, where, as in Bahraich parganá, there is every facility for irrigation, the water lying near the surface. Population (1881) 168,942, namely, 88,587 males and 80,355 females. Principal crops —barley, rice, and Indian corn. Of the zu villages comprising the par aná, 306 are held under tulukdárí tenure. The main road from Bahraich to Nepálganj passes through Nánpárá town, and second-class roads run from Nánpárá to Motipur (16 miles), to Bhingá (29 miles), and to Khairighát (12 miles). Government vernacular town school at Nánpárá, and 8 village schools. Two post - offices and two police stations. The nucleus of the present estate of the Rájá of Nánpárá, comprising nearly the whole of the pargani, consisted of a grant of 5 villages to an Afghán officer named Rasul Khán, who was commissioned by Shán Jahán to coerce the Banjáras, a turbulent tribe who had long disturbed the peace of the country. The family gradually extended their possessions; the present Rájá is the seventh in descent from the founder, Rasul Khán. Nánpárá was only constituted a distinct parganá after the British annexation of Oudlı, having previously been nearly all included in pargami Bahraich. Nánpárá.—Town in Balıraich District, Oudh, and head-quarters of Nánpárá tahsil and parganó ; situated in lat. 27° 52' x., and long. 81° 45" E., 22 miles north of Bahraich town, on the road to Nepálganj. Tradition states that the town was founded by Nidhái, an oil-seller, whence the name Nidhaipurwa, corrupted into Nádpárá, and latterly to Nánpárá. About 1630, an Afghán officer in the service of Shah Jahan, having received a grant of this and four other villages, laid the foundation of the present important estate. Population (1869) 6818; (1881) 7351, namely, Muhammadans, 4643 ; Hindus, 2700; and others,' 2. Arca of town site, 279 acres. Municipal rerenue (1876 - 77), L 242; (1883–84), L556, of which £370 was derived from octroi; average incidence of taxation, is. 01 d. per head of population. Considerable traffic in grain, timber, and firewcod. A valuable trade with