Major Tod, on an Inscription at Madhucarghar. 215 



who makes honourable mention of him, for his noble resistance to the Im- 

 perial Legions. This branch of the Prdmdras, probably held A'bu and 

 its dependances as a fief of Dhdr ; and, as the latter lost importance, A'bu 

 maintained itself independent, or in a state of vassalage, alternately to the 

 Balliara (Ballabhi-rai) sovereigns, or to the kings of Dehli. 



Thus Jait and Sulakha, the ancestors of Dharabarsa, were extricated 

 from subservience to the Ballabhi-rais, only to grace the array of Pirthwi- 

 raja, who married the daughter of Jait, and bestowed on him the office of 

 Prad'hdn •* and both lost their lives in his service. The death of SulakhaI 

 is mentioned in my former paper. The Black Castle of the Prdmdras, built 

 of immense blocks of granite, grey with lichen, perched on a pinnacle of 

 this noble mountain, is a majestic ruin. The gateway (arched, if my me- 

 mory does not betray me,) is yet nearly perfect, flanked by enormous mas- 

 sive towers. The Palmyra has taken root in its deserted court, and flutters 

 its huge leaves, where all is silent, save the screams of the peacock. 



As I passed through the portal, the devotion of Sulakha was forcibly 

 brought to mind ; and I had but to ascend a few steps, and look from the 

 ruined parapet, to view A'r-pdl, the founder, shooting Bhainsdsur, At the 

 base of the western face of the stupendous Arabullah chain, I was so fortu- 

 nate as to discover an ancient city of this race, called Chandrdvati, which has 

 long been the haunt of wild beasts. From its ready formed materials, 

 Ahmedabad arose : which accounts for the Hindu style of architecture in 

 this city. I have an inscription, 600 years old, which mentions Chandrdvati ; 

 but it was of little interest, till I discovered the ruin itself, about fourteen 

 miles east o? A'bu. The town is mentioned in the Bhoja Charitra, as will 

 be seen. It is in these stupendous ranges where search should be made for 

 ancient remains. In such, now inhabited by wild beasts, I have discovered 

 places once the abode of crowned heads. 



There is little doubt that tlie Prdmdra was the first race which succeeded 

 to the great power possessed by the Yddavas. 



* Chief Minister. 



t Orthography and pronunciation cannot be strictly attended to, when there is a variety of 

 information which bears on family history : for the genealogists and poets, in the vernacular dia- 

 lects, have no certain standard themselves, but shorten or lengthen names according to the metre, 

 HilaUi, Sulakh, or Sulakhan : for each and all are but corrupt contractions of the compound 

 epithet Sulacshana " of good qualities." 



