^16 Major Tod, on an Inscription at Madlmcargltar. 



Imperfectly as we can trace this extent of power, yet we can discover, in 

 no otiier sncceeding dynasty, the like. Tlie sovereigns of Ne/irwala Pattau 

 were rich and powerfnl ; and, for three reigns, their authority extended over 

 eighteen different states, reduced by them to dependence. It was at tliis 

 period El Edrisi visited tliat country, and lie repeats what liad already been 

 told by the " travellers," of the ninlli century, concerning the " Balhara" 

 kings, though the dynasty had changed from the Chaiira to SolanH ir'ihQS. 

 The T'udr dynasty, for near four hundred years (from the eighth to the twelfth 

 century), exercised extensive sovereignty, in which they must have often 

 clashed with the Balhara-s ; whose power was at the full in tlie same period ; 

 and each rose on the downfall of the Prdmdra. It is a singular fact, that 

 scions of old dynasties were forming new kingdoms in various parts of 

 India, about tlie very time that the religion of Muhammed was moving 

 eastward : for the arms of Walid were simultaneously exhibited in Klio- 

 rasdn, on tlie waters of the Indus, and in Spain, towards the end of the first 

 century of the Hejira ; and about the same time, from A.D. 750 to 8U0, 

 various new dynasties were planted : Dehli by a branch of the Ttidr line ; 

 Patlan (^Nclirwala) by the C/iat/ras ,- Chitore by the Rdmis ; and, not long 

 after, Canwajja (Canoty), by the Rahtorc. It is from the first century of 

 Vicramdditya, to these new establishments, we are most in want of informa- 

 tion : and all that we yet have to fill up these seven centuries, is little more 

 than a string of names. Even such is seized with avidity, where notliing 

 before was forthcoming. It is by neglecting nothing, however slight or 

 isolated the fragment, we may fill uj) eventually some of these blanks : but 

 to be of use, tiie search must be extensive. I have more than once found 

 an old couplet, borne in the memory, serve as a clue to the cstablisinnent of 

 a valuable and useful fact, which could not else have been applicable. 



The bard Chand describes the dynasties, enjoying sovereignty when he 

 writes, as having originally emanated in grants from the Pr-dmdi-a, of whom 

 their ancestors appear to have held in capite. It forms an episode in the 

 relation of the battle between Prit'hwirAj v and the monarch ofCanwajja. 



In the heat of action, after the Lord of Dehli had cut to pieces every 

 thing whicli o])posed him, he is encountered by the body guard of Jaya- 

 CHAND, which consists of one thousand Rdjpiits, of whom a very animated 

 description is afforded. Struck with their appearance, the Chahamdna 

 sovereign asks ' wiio they are ?' which serves as a tiieme for the bard, and 

 yields us comparatively important historical information at the same time. 



