260 Capt. Franklin's Memoir on Bundelkhund. 



including the perganah of Kunch, and have a population estimated at 700,000 

 inhabitants. 



This tract being divided into two nearly equal parts by the Ken* river, 

 the divisions are termed eastern and western districts ; and they are again 

 divided in the usual manner into perganahs, and t'hanas, for the facility of 

 collecting the revenue, and regulating the police. 



The states of the native chiefs, or Rajas of Bundelkhund, occupy the 

 remainder of the tract ; and are each under the dominion of its own chief, 

 who enjoys the protection of the British government ; and is thus secured 

 from foreign encroachment They contain about 19,000 square miles, and 

 1,700,000 inhabitants. fJi't \'^y- 



These petty states are numerous ; and some of them are extensive : but, 

 in order to present them in a clear light, and shew the nature of the tenure 

 fey which they are holden, it will be necessary first to take a general view 

 of the history of the whole province. 



The Chandela race or dynasty is the most ancient of which there is any 

 existing account ; and even this information, limited as it is, is too much 

 blended with fable to ofler any clear or distinct data. The Ch6lidn-rasa,f a 

 poetical chronicle of the exploits of Rdjd Pkit'hiraj of Delhi, gives a short 

 account of them ; and describes the boundaries of their possessions to be 

 Sirswdghar on the west, the Pudr (Pramdra) states on the south-west, 

 Gondudnd on the south, the Soorgi (Stirji or Suriji? ) territory on the east, 

 and the Jumna river on the nortli ; and, following this description, their 

 territory must have been very extensive. Their magnificence indeed is 

 apparent at the present day, by the numerous remains of stupendous edifices, 

 and other ruins, which are to be found in several parts of the province ; the 

 style of architecture of which is so superior to that of a later period, that 

 these ruins, and the inscriptions which are frequently connected with them, 

 are not only objects of interest and curiosity, but they miglit be investigated 

 with hope of eliciting further information. 



From the Chdhdn-rdsa it appears that Chunder Brim (Chandra Varma) 

 was the first of this dynasty; and, on the authority of an ancient inscription, 

 still extant in one of the old Hindu temples of Kajrau.l: he is stated to have 

 been contemporary with the author of the Hindu Sambat. The fanciful 



* Cane, Keane — Maps, Sfc. f See page 146, &c. of this volume. J Kujrou. 



