2S6 V. A. Smith — Observations on some Chandel Antiquities. [No. 4, 



The zamindars of most villages in the small native state of Chhatar- 

 pur, in which Khajuraho is situated, are said to be Kurmis, Kachhis, or 

 Brahmans, but in Khajuraho itself we were surprised to find that Chandel 

 Thakurs are still the zamindars. They comprise only a few families* and 

 claim to be Ihumiyan or aboriginal, stating, however, that their ancestors 

 came from Maniya Garh,f which is the ancient fort of the town of Baj- 

 garh, situated on the Ken, a few miles from Chhatarpur. 



We were informed that Chandels are not found as zamindars in any 

 village except Khajuraho, though scattered families exist elsewhere. The 

 Chandel zamindars who are part proprietors of M. Urwara in Pargana 

 Mahoba came from Ajnar in Pargana Jaitpur, whence they were expelled 

 by Lodhis and Brahmans in the time of Jagatraj Bundela {circa 1750 

 A. D.) ; and the Chandels who have a share in Mauza Kaimaha of 

 Pargana Mahoba immigrated at a late date from Sheorajpur in the Cawn- 

 pore District. 



We know of no other Chandel proprietors in the Hamirpur District, 

 and the zamindars of Khajuraho may therefore claim to be the only local 

 representatives of the ancient ruling clan who still retain an honourable 

 position. 



At Mahoba we have been told that the Chandel royal house is now 

 represented by Jaimangal Singh of Gidhaur and by other Rajas in the 

 vicinity of Gya.J 



We have repeatedly made efforts to obtain specimens of the Chandel 

 coinage, of which so few jDieces have been found, but up to the present our 

 enquiries, both at Khajuraho and elsewhere, have been unsuccessful. 



The rarity of the coins of a dynasty which flourished for four centu- 

 ries may perhaps be plausibly accounted for by the hypothesis that the 

 Chandel coinage was called in by the Musalmans. 



The native official with our camp told us that coins which he spoke of 

 as duhri (the word apparently meaning simply ' old') had been found at 

 Khajuraho and sent into Chhatarpur, but at the latter place, when we tried 

 to get a glimpse of them, we were put off with various excuses. These 

 coins were stated to have borne illegible legends, and were pronounced by 

 the local goldsmiths to consist of a mixture of silver, brass and copper. 



* Eleven families according to General Cunningham who mentions their exis- 

 tence. 



t Maniya Deo is the tutelary goddess of the Chandels. Tide J. A. S. B., XLVI. 

 Part I, p. 233, and Arch. Rep. VII. 44. 



% For a brief history of the Haj as of Gidhaur see Statistical Account of Bengal 

 (for the Monghyr District) Vol. XV, pp. 71, 72. 



