LUCA'J'O IV DISTRICT. 495
‘Local tradition states that the owners of the country, before the early Rajput and Mohammedan settlers, were certain low-caste tribes of Bhars, Aralths. and l’dsis. Who the lthars were, is a question that still remains unanswered. Mr. Elliot says that they over-ran the country after the loss of Ajodhya by the Surajbansi tribes. The country had then apparently relapsed into primeval wildemess. The nativcs’ only conception of it is that of a vast uninhabited jungle, in which none but saints and anchorites lived. who passed their time in prayer and medi- tation. Kija Jantuajai, son of Parikshit. grandson of Ruin Yudisthira, of mythical titties. granted them the land in jiigir.
‘The foundation of many of the towns is attributed to devotees, as Mandiu’ton to Manda! Rikh, Mohan to Mohangir Gosain. Jugaur to jagdeo Jogi, Dew-a to Dental Rikh; and they may belong to these times. The Bhars, then, found the country open to them; and in this District there was certainly some dominant clan that ruled the country, so far south as the Sal, up to the end of the nth century.
‘They seem to be of aboriginal origin, and some say belong to the forest tribes of Kols, llhils, Kinits, Hais, Pardhans, and 'l‘hartis, and originally came front the Turin. Ruins of llhar «(this or village sites, c0ver the face of the country. They seem to have built in brick, which is more than their successors the Hindus do. The Kanauj dynasty before its fall made great efforts to wrest the country from them. Aid and Udan, Bandphar Rcijputs, were sent by kaja Jai Chandra, and first attacked Nathawan near Bijnaur, which is said to have been held by a Pdsi Ran Bigli; they then advanced to Stirs-awn near Amethi, and afterwards to Dewa, but seem to have got no farther.
“In describing the settlements of Ptisis and Bhars, etc, Prisis and Ankh: seem to have been in strength in Malihzibéd and to have stretched south to deon’ and Bijnaur, and along the left bank of the Sai to Sassaindi. All to the east of them were Hhars.
‘T he Pasis must have been an aboriginal tribe ; they are disou-ned by every one else, and their habits would favour it. Their fondness for drink was notorious. There is not a story told of the conquest of any fort, but that it was effected by plying the occupants with wine. This is told of Bhars and Prisis alike. The natives connect them with Aralths; they have an account of a Bhar dynasty founded about 5.0. 918, by Tilolt Chand. the head of the tribe. This chief fixed upon Bahraich as his seat of empire, and led a powerful army against Raid Biltrampa'l of Delhi, whom he defeated and dispossessed of his king- dom. It is then said that he held all the country up to Delhi, and all Ottdh up to the mountains. His dynasty lasted for nine generations, or One hundred and fifteen years, up to 5.0. 1993. It ended with Rani Bhem Devi, wife of Gobind Chand, who died without an heir, and
