Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/341

SID-SIK 333 tion of the Sidhore Amil; and, as she would pay no revenue, the Amil took a force a few days ago to her twelve villages of Sonowlee, within the Dureeabad district, and seized and carried off some three hundred of her tenants, men, women, and children, as hostages for the payment of the balance due, and confined them pell-mell in a fort. The clamonr of the rest of the population as I passed was terrible; all declaring that they had paid their rents to the Ranec, and that she alone ought to be beld responsi- ble. She, however, resided at Soorujpoor within the jurisdiction and under the protection of the Amil of Durceabad. "The Behraleea gangs have lately plundered the five villages of Sadut- poor, Luloopoor, Bilkhundee, and Subahpoor, belonging to Soorujbulee, the head canoongo, or chowdheree of Dureeabad, who had never offended them. Both the Amils were with me for the latter part of the road; and the dispute between them ran very high. It was clear, however, that Girbara Sing was strong in his league with the robbers, and conscious of his being able to maintain his ground at court; and Aga Ahmud was weak in his efforts to pnt them down, and conscious of his being unable much longer to pay what was required, and keep his post. He has with him two companies of Najeebs and two of Telingas and eight guns. The guns are useless, and without ammunition or stores of any kind; and the Najeebs and Telingas cannot be depended upon. The best paymaster las certainly the best chance. It is humiliating and distressing to see a whole people suffering such wrongs as are every day inflicted upon the village coinmunities and towns people of Dureeabad, Rodowlee, Sidhore, and Dewa, by these merci- less freebooters; and impossible not to feel indignant at a Government that regards them with so much indifference." ("Sleeman's tour through Oudh," Vol. II., pages 316—318.) SIDDHAUR-Pargana SIDDHAUR-Tahsil HAYDARGARH-District BARA BANKI.—This town lies 16 miles west of the civil Station and 24 from Bahramghat in latitude 26°46' north, longitude 81°26'10" east. The original name is said to have been Siddhpura (the residence of a holy man or siddb), but it is now corrupted into Siddhaur. There is an old temple of Siddheshwar Mahadeo and a dargah of Qázi Qutub, where fairs are held respectively on Shiuréttri and Id and Baqarid. It is counected by ed road with the sadr station and Zaidpur, and by another with Daryabad. A good deal of fever prevails in the town at the com- mencenient of the cold season. There is a school, a registry office, and a post office here. The population amounts to 2,203. SIKANDARPUR Pargana—Tahsil UNAO— District UNAO.--This par- gana is bounded on the north by Paziar, on the east by Unao, on the south by Harha, and on the west by the district of Cawnpore. It is about 10 miles long from east to west, and 8 miles broad from north to south. It has an area of 37,023 acres or about 58 square niles comprising 51 villages, of which 48 are the zamindari of the Parihár Chhattris. The soil is chiefly loam and clay. The chief products are barley and sugar- cane, 1,013 acres are under groves. There are three lakes in the pargana. The climate is healthy. There are five markets. The land revenue amounts an unm