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BHERA GHA T—BHEREN.

386 the

bank, and possessed considerable importance, as

it purchased by a present of 2 lakhs of rupees (^20,000), but was afterwards destroyed by hill tribes. The remaining ruins, known as Jobnathnagar, are identified by General Cunningham with the capital of Sopheites, contemporary of Alexander the Great. The new town was founded about 1540, round a fine mosque and tomb of a Muhammadan saint. The mosque has lately been restored. Centre of a mahdl under Akbar; plundered and laid waste by Ahmad Shah’s general, Nur-ud-dm, in 1757; re-populated by the Sikh chieftains of the Bhangi confederacy j greatly improved under

left

safety during

British rule.

Babar’s

Tahstli

invasion

and police

station, school, dispensary, town-hall.

Large trade in cotton during the American war, since somewhat declined. Exports of ghi and country cloth flourishing manufacture of cotton

cloth, ponkhas, soap, coarse

felt,

iron goods, wood-carving, brass-work,

and glove- boxes mounted in jade, swords and cutlery and country felt rugs {namdas) imports of rice, sugar, gur, European piece-goods, Bokhara silk, ermine furs, Russian china ware, coins, and silver and gold ornaments. Bheraghat. Village in Jabalpur (Jubbulpore) District, Central Provinces, on the banks of the Narbada (Nerbudda) remarkable for knife handles,

generally,

—



the scenery in

its

neighbourhood.

The

river

winds

in a crystal stream

between perpendicular rocks of magnesian limestone, popularly known ‘Marble Rocks,’ 120 feet high, which appear to meet overhead, and in one part approach so closely that the natives call the pass the monkey’s leap.’ By moonlight, the views are specially fine, and the Indra is said to have made this p>lace is much visited by travellers. channel for the waters of the pent-up stream, and the footprints left upon the rock by the elephant of the god still receive adoration. On one of the conical hills in the neighbourhood stands a Hindu temple, commanding a magnificent prospect Woods cover the hill except on une side, where steps lined with masonry lead to the shrine, which is surrounded by a circular cloister ornamented with sculptures of many The Muhammadans have of the Hindu gods, particularly of Siva. injured many of the images. According to tradition, the iconoclasts were a portion of Aurangzeb’s army encamped near Sangrampur. Some rude excavations in the neighbourhood once afforded a habitation to ascetics. A fair for religious purposes is held every November. Bheraghat and the ‘Marble Rocks’ are situated about 12 miles south-west of Jabalpur town, and 3 miles from the railway station of Mi'rganj on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway. There are two dak bungalows (rest-houses). Bheren, Estate or zammddr'i in Bargarh tahsil, Sambalpur District, as the

‘

—

Area, 20 square miles; number of villages, 29; occupied houses, 2212; population (1881) 9622, namely, 4780 males

Central Provinces.

and 4842

females.