AME
58
Bashist (Vasishtha), Kasyapa" but it has become the custom to call all sub-divisions of a tribe gets, and according to the Puranas there are no less than 10,000 now so far as my information goes, notwithstanding this vast number of gots, two Rajput tribes only, the Bachgotis and Bandhalgotis have assumed them as their ordinary designation and these by some odd chance have contrived to settle not only in the same province, but also in immediate juxtaposition; this may of course be pure accident it may be
something more. In the settlement report a common origin
is
assigned to the Bandhalgotis
and Kanhpurias. This does not profess to follow the traditions of those concerned, which make Ghdchu Chirch orSuchh, progenitor of the Kanhpurias only and ignores the Bandhalgotis altogether. The only circumstance bearing on the point that I can find is that Kdnh is the eponymous ancestor of the Kanhpuria clan, and Kdhandeo is the root This may either be an of the genealogical tree of the Bandhalgotis. indication of their common descent, or it m.ay have given rise to the Again, the name of the district which the story which asserts it. Bandhalgotis now occupy suggested some connection between them and the Amethias, but all they have in common is that they both settled in places called Amethi. one happened to pick up a new name by doing so, the other did not.
K
With respect to matrimonial alliances, the Bandhalgotis give their daughters to the Tilok Chandi Bais, R^thors, Bhadwarias and Bisens of Manjhauli, and take the daughters of Bachgotis ( of the more important houses ) Dirgbansi, Bhale-Sultan, Raghubansi, Bilkharia, Jadubansi, and Bisens of Manikpur while there is reciprocity on this point between them and the Baghels, Gharwars, Ghauhans of Mainpuri and Panwars.*
which Bandhalgotis are found. Sir Henry Banaudha and Bundelkhand, and says there are a few Haweli Ghazipur. The first are evidently those of Amethi re-
Regarding the Elliot
also in
localities in
particularizes
garding the others, I have not been able to ascertain anything. -f
The Amethi people are under the impression that there are namesakes of GuptarGhat near Ajodhya, but local enquiry proves them to be mistaken in this respect. They are more correct in suptheirs in the vicinity of
posing that a Bandhalgoti colony lies a little further north near Manikapur. trustworthy tradition ascribes their arrival in those parts to the commencement of the 14th century A. D.; and at one time they appear to have enjoyed considerable importance but aBisen has occupied their gaddi for six generations, and they now retain few vestiges of their former greatness. As to their connection with this northern colony, the Bandhalgotis of Amethi make no positive statement they do not altogether disown it but, on the other hand, they do not admit that it belongs to their fraternity ; some af&rm it is an off-shoot of the house of Naraini others profess Still further to the north, in the extreme west ignorance as to its origin. of Naipal is a peculiar dis-Hinduised and degraded tribe called Bujhal Gharti, their superstitions " are neither Buddhist nor Brahman, but yet
A
- This
is what the Bandhalgotis say, I cannot vouch for its accuracy. + The only books I have been able to consult are Oldham's Report and Census Ghazipur district, which, however, should be amply sufficient.
o£ the
