1878 ] H. J. Rainey — Origin oftlie name Clilidydjpati. 105 



The following papers were read : — 

 1. A Legend regarding the origin of the name Chhdydpati or "Lord of 

 the Shadoivs,^^ a small Tdluq in Fargana Sogld, Zild Jessore. — JBy 

 H. James Eainet. 



To any one acquainted with the vernaCTilar language of Lower Bengal, 

 the designation Chhayapati is sufficiently striking to awaken curiosity re- 

 garding its origin, as it signifies " Lord of the Shadow," from chhdyd 

 {wX^i), " Shadow," and ^«i^i (^1^), "Lord." Finding it among the names 

 of one of the minor tdlu^s in my family zamindaris situate in JPargand 

 Hogla, I naturally enquired about it, but for some time was unable to ob- 

 tain any specific information regarding it. At last the following precise 

 account of the derivation was narrated to me by an aged Erahman, and, I 

 think, it may be fairly presumed to be substantially correct. 



An ancestor of the present owners of the tdluq^, a high caste Brahman 

 famed for his piety, became a defaulter of rent of his holding, and the zamin- 

 ddr being unable to realize it, despatched him with others in a like position, as 

 usual in such cases, to the Court of the Nawab, then held in Murshidabad. 

 The defaulters being brought before the Nawab, various punishments, 

 more or less severe, were imposed on them, to compel them, if possible, 

 to discharge the arrears of rent due by them. That allotted to the Brah- 

 man, was, that his head should be shaved, well smeared with oil, and exposed 

 to the full blaze of the sun. The Nawab looked calmly on as the unfortu- 

 nate Brahman was placed in the centre of the Court-yard, when, suddenly, a 

 dense cloud passed over the face of the sun, and it was thoroughly obscured, 

 leaving him perfectly in the shade. The reputation acquired by the aged 

 Brahman for austere devotion and sanctity being well known to the assem- 

 bly, the by-standers exclaimed " a miracle ! a miracle !" The Nawab imme- 

 diately ordered the release of the Brahman, and granted to him his holding 

 at a nominal rental. And, in order to commemorate what he deemed to be 

 nothing less than a miraculous event, he changed the name of the tenure 

 to Chhdyd-pati, which it has retained ever since. The former name of the 

 place is not known. 



The event here related is said to have occurred some time before 

 the British assumed the Government of the country, about a century 

 and a half aoro. 



2. An Account of the Tidal Observations in the Gulf of Cutch conducted 

 hy the Great Trigonometrical Purvey under the superintendence of 

 Colonel J. T. Walker, C. B., E. E., during the years 1873-74-75. 

 Compiled from the G, T. Survey Meporis hy Captain J. Watek- 

 HOUSE, Assistant Surveyor General. 



