Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/108

100 JAR-JHA in this village; owing to this circumstance the population, comprising 3,328 souls, has a large proportion of Musalmans,who number 1,928. Within, how- ever, the last fifty years the Sayyads' influence in the neighbourhood has much decreased, and a large portion of their property has fallen into the hands of their Rajput neighbours. There are 900 houses, of which six only are of brick. Two Hindu temples, four mosques, a mud saráe, and a school are the only quasi-public buildings. The Government village school boasts of 73 boys. Markets are held on Mondays and Fridays, at which grain, cloth, and brass vessels are the sole commodities exposed for sale. No impor- tant fairs are held near this place; but at Belnapára, about six miles distant, and at Katka Marota, about seven miles distant, weekly gatherings of the peasantry around take place. The course of traffic lies as far as Bahrám- pur by road, and thence a large quantity of grain goes down by boats to Simaria Ghát; skins, ghf, &c., cross the river and go by road into Lucknow and Cawnpore. Fireworks, dyes, saltpetre, scents, and felts constitute the manufactures of the place. The last mentioned article is a speciality of Bahraich and Jarwal. JHALOTAR AJGAIN Pargana,Tahsil MOHAN-District UNAO.-Jha- lotar Ajgain lies north of Harha pargana and south of Mohán Aurás. The town of Jhalotar is 13 miles north-east from Unao. Formerly the spot was covered with small dhák jungle and close to the present town was a lake which went by the name Kunda Samudr. It is said that a faqír, by name Mushtáq Shah, dwelt in this jungle, and near to him a Chamár having built himself a house, and having cleared some of the jungle, made a settlement of Chamárs. The original name was Jháli, which was con- verted into Jhalotar. Subsequently to this the Subahdar of Oudh built a fort and town where the Chamár settlement had stood. This pargana was first established as such in the reign of Akbar. In 1770 Beni Bahádur, Káyath, the minister of Shujá-ud-daula, got an estate in Jhalotar as jágír, which he made into a separate pargana and called Ajgain. There is now a railway station near Ajgain of the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway, Cawapore branch. It only received the double name under which it is now known at the last settlement. There is a temple to Durga Debi in Pachgáon, and another in Kusumbhi dedicated to Kusahri Debi. There are fairs at both of these places at the end of the latter half of the month of Chait (March) for two or three. days; some 60,000 persons congregate. Kusumbhi has at present a railway station, and hence great facility is rendered to the people travelling from Lucknow and Cawnpore. Cloth and brass vessels, Lucknow and Cawapore works are sold there, and every Monday a small local fair is held at these places. Formerly Lodhs and Bhars were to be found in this pargana, but since the conquest by the Muhammadans, Dikhit Thákurs and Brahmans are met with in the greatest number. There are some few Ahírs, Lodhs, and Káyaths. To the east, south, and west of the pargana the soil is chiefly loam and clay, and to the west chiefly sand. The pargana is 14 miles long by 12