160
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
was established at Devagad under Jatwa Rāja, who was formerly a servant of the two Gauli brother princes, Ramsur and Ghansur. By treason he deposed them and took possession of the Gadi, and then, to his assistance, came the three brothers, Aha Bankha, Phonj Bhankha and Mahā Bankha, with a force of 2,000 men. During the conflict carried on between the opposing forces, Aha and Mahā died, and the surviving brother, Phonj Bankha, received as a reward for his services the Balkagarh or Khapa Jägir. After affairs had been settled, and Jatva made quite secure on his usurped throne, he, together with his ally Phonj Bankha, proceeded to the Nizamat Haidarābad, and tendered their con
-
[May 3, 1872.
joint aid to him. They were directed to join the attack on Golkonda or Bhāgnagar, whose Rani
revelled in the euphonious name of Nakti Rani Ching Moji Sang Moji. They took her possessions, and for this good turn, Jatva received in marriage the Nizam's daughter. He of course turned Muham madan, and acquired the new title of Bakht Buland, when he returned to Devagad, and assurned the
regal purple. His descendant, Suliman Shah Bad shah, known as the Gond Rāja, now resides at Nāg
pur, while Gopal Sing, the descendant of Phonj Bankha, is the present Rāja of Khapa, and is put down as in the 14th generation.—Report of the Topographical Surveys for 1869-70.
NOTES, QUERIES, &c.
NATIVE TRIBES OF SIK III.M.
THE following account of the principal native tribes inhabiting the hilly country of the Darjiling territory, we get from the local News. The moun tainous country from 1,500 to 4,000 feet above the level of the sea, is inhabited by a warlike, beard less, Mongolian race, named Limbus, who are by turns Hindus, Buddhists, or Polytheists, according
high range. This tribe has not yet settled in the Darjiling district.—Delhi Gazette, Dec. 30. MAULME IN CAVES.
To one curious in geology or antiquities, there are some interesting natural caves in some lofty limestone rocks, across a river, at the distance of about 10 miles eastward of Maulunein.
The rocks
to circumstances or convenience.
extend for two or three miles, and rise perpendicu From 4,000 to 6,000 feet, the upper limit of cultiva tion, the Hills are inhabited by Lepchas, Bhotias, and Murmis. The Lepchas, who are the aborigines of the Darjiling mountains, are a fair and beardless race, Mongolians, Buddhists, omnivorous, and an amiable and cheerful race of people. They have a written language in their own character. The Bhotias are principally from Bhutan, east of the Tista river; they are a phlegmatic, heavy, quarrel some race when compared with the Lepchas, many of them have beards and moustaches ; they are Mongolians, Buddhists, are omnivorous, have a written language in the Thibetan character ; they
are an agricultural and pastoral people, depasturing with herds of Yaks on the grassy mountains imme diately under the perpetual snow in summer, and the forests in the warm valleys during the winter.
They raise crops of rice, buck-wheat, barley and
larly to the height of about 500 or 600 feet or even more from the alluvial plain.
A few lofty posts
were placed in front on the plain, such as are seen sometimes
in
front of
Hindu
and
Buddhist
temples, possibly for hoisting flags. The caves are at a distance of 20 or 30 yards from the foot of
the rocks, and extend about that distance into the mountain. The height is very irregular, and in
some places may be 30 or 40 feet, with here and there large stalactites hanging down. I struck one of these a smart blow with my stick, and the
ringing noise that it gave out made the guide and myself start. This cave is nearly filled with Bud dhist images, some are eight or ten yards long, in a
reclining posture, but most are sitting. The larger
vegetables.
are all of brick and chunam, and the smaller, some of which are not more than two feet high, are of
The Murmis are a pastoral and agricultural people, depasturing with flocks of sheep and goats on the
all are now defaced and in ruins.
wood, and formerly all were whitewashed. Nearly The breasts of
grassy mountains near the perpetual snow; they live on the summits and sides of mountains from
4,000 to 6,000 feet, in stone cottages thatched with grass. They are Buddhists, Mongols, and they
most of the larger had been opened in the hope of finding money or other valuables. A second cave at
about a quarter of a mile distant on the N. E. side
speak a dialect of Thibetan.
of the rock is empty of images, and appears never
The summit of the great Singaloda spur separat ing Darjiling on the west from Nepal, is occupied during the summer months by a Hindu pastoral race from Nepāl named Garangs, who from 9,000 up to 14,500 feet depasture their extensive flocks of sheep
to have had them. This cave extends some 20 yards
(which are guarded by large savage black dogs) upon the luxuriously grass-covered summit of this
into the rock, and is 30 or 40 feet high in its highest part. Torches or candles were necessarily used in viewing both these caves, which, whatever they may once have been, are now only the abode of bats. The place is a most lonely one, and is said not to be
