Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924024153987).pdf/285

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— BAI—BAK

207

miles to the east of the Bareli and Dalmau road. The country round is well cultivated and fairly wooded. The population is 4,887, of whom 294 are Chhattris and 260 Brahmans. There is a school at which forty-one boys learn Urdu. There is a temple to Mahadeo, the principal deity of the inhabitants. Markets are held twice a week.

BAILGA'ON

Pargann Puewa Tahsil PuRWA District Unao. Is five miles north-west of the tahsil and sixteen miles south-east of the sadr station. The Lon stream runs near the north-east corner. The time of its foundation is unknown, but it was very long ago. There is the ruin of a fortress built by Raja Achal Singh, Bais. There is a Nagri school attended by about thirty-two boys. Two markets weekly. About four or five thousand people attend. The trade consists in jewellery, in wood and iron, implements of husbandry, and cloth. Dumat and matiar soil. The site is uneven a tolerable climate and good scenery. Groves of mango trees and mahua surround it. No jungle, and the water is both fresh and salt

in different wells. Population

Hindus^

Muliammadans

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•••

Total

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1,199

20 1,219

Temple

Annual amount

BAXSAR

of sales

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...

Pargana Daundia Khera

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..•

Est

— Tahsil Purwa—District TJnao. —

This village in pargana Daundia Khera lies on the Ganges, 32 miles southeast of Unao it was the first seat of the Bais clan, and conquered by Raja Abhai Chand, who called it after the shrine of Mahddeo Bakeswar. A

great fair is still held here in Kartik, when 100,000 people assemble to bathe in the Ganges, said to be particularly sacred at the place because it flows slightly towards the north the sales at the fair reach Rs. .5,000. The population is 1,222, of whom 12 are Musalmans. It was at this spot that the fugitives from Cawnpore came ashore and took refuge in a temple where most of them were massacred ; the affair is thus related by Major

De

la

Fosse

down to the river and into the boats without being molested in no sooner were we in the boats and had laid down our but the least muskets, and had taken off our coats, to work easier at the boats, than the Two guns that had been hidcavalry (our escort) gave the order to fire. den were run out, and opened upon us immediately, while sepoys came from all directions and kept up a brisk fire. "

We

got

The men jumped out of the boats, and instead of trying to boat they saw loose from their moorings, swam to the first "

get the boats loose.

Only

three boats got safe over to the opposite side of the river, but were met there by two field-pieces, guarded by a number of cavalry and infantry. Before half our party were either these boats had got a mile down the stream,