February, 1873.] THE CHANDEL THA KU RS. 35 to them, crossed the Jamuna for the fertile plains of the Doab. Both MSS. are agreed that for eight genera¬ tions the head-quarters of the clan were at Kanauj, though the year of the migration thither is given by the Persian MS. at Sambat 1223, and by the Hindi one as 1180—a comparatively trifling discrepancy. The eight rajas of Kanauj were— Sabhajit. Gy as Deo. Ghansyam Deo. Bihr Deo. Lahr Deo. SAp Deo. Bas Deo. Khakh Deo. Dham Deo. Sheoraj Deo Pat Deo Lag Deo founded Sheo- founded founded rajpAr. Pachor. Sapihi. Baja. Bawat. Bao. From this From this From this branch descend- branch des- branch des- ed the cended the cended the Rdwat of Onha. Hand of Sakrej. Rdwat of Ba- watpAr. A sort of intermediate migration was made from Kanauj to Badhan, where the remains of a large fort overlooking a wide expanse of country bear silent witness to departed greatness. The Persian MS. gives the following account:— “ Sheoraj Deo founded Sheoraj pAr and called it after his own name, so that from Kumaon to Karra (ManikpAr*) the whole country of Kanauj was in his possession. Since the rule of the Muhammadans had been established now for some time, all the rajas and great men of the country attended the emperor’s court, and amongst them Sheoraj Deo, regarding whom it was ordered that leaving Kanauj” (where he was probably too strong) “ he was to reside in Tappa Badhan and Bilhat, in the parganah of BithAr, where is ‘Sita Basoi.* Sheoraj accordingly, obeying the emperor’s order, left the fort of Kanauj, and first building a fort in Badhan lived there ; and afterwards founding Sheoraj pAr, he established his rule there. While he lived in Kanauj he had soldiers, horse and foot, numerous as the waves of the sea, so that to enumerate them is impossible. They say that when the rkja went for a short time to Karra, horsemen carried to him the betel leaf prepared for him daily in his home, before the hour of midday meal.” The Hindi MS. simply says:—“ In 1383 Sambat, Sheoraj Deo came to Sheoraj pAr, and, destroying the fort of Badhan, founded Sheoraj pAr.” The fort at Badhan certainly appears too massive to have served as head-quarters for so brief a time as would appear from the Persian MS. It probably dates from before the Chandel incursion. The object, therefore, of this last migration is not clearly brought out. From the analogy of the settlements of Gaur ThakArs in Narh, parganah BasAlabad, the Mughuls of Barah and the Chauhans of Mohana, parganah Ak- barpAr, zilla KanhpAr, it would seem that the Meos (Mewas, Mewatis, whose rule is invariably put at 500 years back, as having preceded the existing clans) becoming turbulent and lawless, the aid of the stronger Hindu rajas was accept¬ ed by the emperor, and grants of land bestowed upon them for their services. In Elliot’s Glos¬ sary it is said:— “ The Chandels of Sheoraj pAr in KanhpAr are represented to have received from the Gautarns 62 villages in that parganah, having been induced to leave Mahoba after the defeat of their chief, Binnaditya,f by Prithi- raj.” This account of the origin of the Chandel influence in zilla KanhpAr is not confirmed by either of the MSS.; nor is it perhaps probable that it would be, even if true. It takes, moreover, no account of the Kanauj dynasty. The 62 vil¬ lages, however, are well known to the present day, and formed the raja’s talfika under our settlements. I have shown above the principal branches of the original Chandel stock ; of these, the Pachor branch is extinct, and the Sakrej branch practi¬ cally so. The ran& still grasps at some remnant of clan-authority, and his attendance at wed¬ dings is sought after to give the ceremony eclat. On the death of the rana, those of the brother¬ hood who still warm to their old nobility meet and, contributing small presents of grain, clothes, and money, go through the ceremony of imprint¬ ing the tilak. The other branches still flourish, the representative of Onha being the picture of a BajpAt squire. The last titled occupant of the Sheoraj pAr gaddi} accused of disloyalty, was stripped of all his landed property—mutilated as its value was by the conferment of sub-proprie¬ tary rights on the Mukaddams at the last settle¬ ment—and thrown into jail; and after the expira-
- Zilla Fattehpdr,
t No such name in the pedigrees.
