Volume 1

The annals and antiquities of Rajasthan, or The central and western Rajpoot states of India / by Lieutenant Colonel James Tod.

  • James Tod
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The annals and antiquities of Rajasthan, or The central and western Rajpoot states of India / by Lieutenant Colonel James Tod. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    to suit the dignity ; but being brought up remote from court, they had been compelled to seek employment where obtainable, or to live on the few acres to which their distant claim of birth restricted them. Two of these, who had but the latter resource to fly to, had become mere boors; and of two who had sought service abroad by arms, one was a cavalier in the retinue of the prince, and the other a hanger-on about court : both dissipated and unfitted, as the frerage asserted, “ to be the chieftains of two thousand Rajpoots, the sons of one father.”* * * § Much interest and intrigue were carried on for one of these, and he was supported by the young prince and a faction. Some of the senior Puttawuts of Deogurh are men of the highest character, and often lamented the sombre qualities of their chief, which prevented the clan having that interest in the state to which its extent and rank entitled it. While these intrigues were in their infancy, they adopted a decided measure ; they brought home young Nahar from his father’s residence, and “ bound round his head the turban of the deceased.” In his name the death of the late chief was an- nounced. It was added, that he hoped to see his friends after the stated days of ‘ matiub or mourning ; and he performed all the duties of the son of Deo- gurh, and lighted the funeral pyre. When these proceedings were reported, the Rana was highly and justly incensed. The late chief had been one of the rebels of 1848 ;j* and though pardon had been granted, yet this revived all the collection of the past, and he felt inclined to extinguish the name of Sangawutq: In addition to the common sequestration, he sent an especial one with commands to collect the produce of the harvest then reaping, charging the sub-vassals with the design of overturning his lawful authojity. They replied very submissively, and artful]v asserted that they had only given a son to Ookul Das, not an heir to Deogurh ; that the sovereign alone could do this, and that they trusted to his nominating one who would be an efficient leader of so many Rapoots in the service of the Rana. They urged the pretensions of young Nahar, at the same time leaving the decision to the sovereign. Their judicious reply was well supported by their ambassador at court, who was the bard of Deogurh, and had recently become, though ex-officio, physician to the prince.§ The point was finally adjusted, and Nahar was brought to court and invested with the sword by the hand of the sovereign, and he is now lord of Deogurh Madaria, one of the richest and most } owerful fiefsl} of Mewar. Madaria was the ancient name of the estate ; and Singramgurh, of which Nahar was the heir, was severed from it, but by some means had reverted to the crown, of which it now holds. The adoption of Nahar by Gokul Das leaves the paternal estate without an immediate heir; and his actual father being mad, if more distant claims are not admitted, it is probable that S’ngramgurh will eventually revert to the fisc. * Ek bcvp ca beta. t A. D. 1792. t That of the clan of Deogurh. § Apollo is the patron both of physicians and poets ; and though my friend Urara does not disgrace him in either calling, it was his wit, rather than his medical degree, that main- tained him at court. He said it was not tilting that the sovereign of the wmrld should be served by clowns or opium-eaters ; and that young Nahar, when educated at court under the Eana’s example, would do credit to the country : and what had full as much weight as any of the bard’s argumen's was, that the fii.e of relief on the 7'ulv:ar bvndai (or girding on the sword) of a lacK of rupees, should be immediately forthc ming. ]) Pufta.
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