Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/239

RAE 231 was still in the position of feoffer to the Díwán of Hasanpur. And here again we come upon a puzzling feudal custom of eastern "Oudh. A very clear and widespread tradition represents all rájas in those early days as taking investiture from the Rája of Hasanpur also called díwán. "It is my own impression that he was the Hindu díwán or náib of the Jaunpur kingdom, and that this investiture by him was just the act of homage to the delegate of the Jaunpur suzerain. At any rate, after the Jaunpur kingdom passed away, this exclusive right or rather hegemony passed away also from Hasanpur; the Bais had a rája of their own, so also had the Kanhpurias and the Sombansis, and the latter chief in the 18th century was called to Benares to place the sacred oil or rather clay upon the fore- head of the great Bhuinhár* rája. The difference between the two tradi- tions is not serious. The Rae Bareli bards declare that the eldest son of Tilok Chand's grandson became Rája of Murármau, the Cawnpore bards relate that he was a younger son; that the Daundia Khera ráos, who after- wards divided their property into the Purwa and Daundia Khera estates, were the elder as they were the more powerful branch. The following is the Rae Bareli tale as related by Mr. Benett. For some time nothing of note occurred except a division in the Bais rája's house. Either Deo Ráe or his son, Bhairon Dás, separated from the main stock, and receiving Daundia Khera and four other villages as their share of the family property, founded the subsequently powerful house of the Babus or Ráos of Baiswára. It is probable that their propinquity to the throne, and the personal character of their chiefs from the first gave them great influence, as we find them very shortly afterwards contending on equal terms with the rájas of Murármau. The division probably took place shortly after the general conversion just described. The end of Akbar's reign was a season of great vitality among the Raj- put families, which showed itself after the usual fashion by the prosecution of the old, and the successful establishment of new family fouds. It is probable that the dearth of history during this reign may be ascribed to the firm and enlightened rule of the great emperor. When the ruins became relaxed, the whole district was thrown into confusion. In Bais- wára itself the most remarkable event was the spread of the Simbasi family. Shakt Singh, the fourth in descent from Harhardeo, invaded the Dalmau pargana, which, though nominally in Baiswara, contained too many power- ful Muhammadan families to yield a ready obedience to Bais rule. The expedition was successful, and his sons, Domandeg and Rudr Sáh, succeeded him in the government of these the first was celebrated for the large- ness of his family, the second for the number of his conquests, Domandeo, in his fort at Chiloli, added eight sons to the strength of his race, and Rudr Sah founded Sábpur and dispossessed his first cousins, the song of the brothers of Shakt Singh, of the villages which had been assigned for their support. It appears that the achievements of the two brothers were regarded as equally brilliant, and they divided the estate they had Oldham's Cházipur.