1865.] Notes on the Gurjat State of Patna. 109 



trees, such as the mangoe, but also by the unmistakeable proof of 

 old broken tiles and brick foundations of houses and temples. Nor 

 is it alone immediately around the " gurh" of Patna, that signs of 

 former welfare and former energetic rule are to be found. Turning to 

 the southern position of the state in the Kondhan zemindarees of 

 Lowa and Topa, at Jhoorwaee in Lowa, at Titoola and Oodeypoor in 

 Topa, are numerous ruins of solid buildings, of from one to three 

 stories high, and generally through the Kondhan lands are the walls of 

 neglected temples at distances of two or four miles apart. Moreover 

 to prove in some measure the earnestness which formerly existed for 

 developing the country, and the respect which is still held for the race 

 of its once energetic rulers, it is to be remarked that the Khonds of 

 the oldest Khond settlement at Saintula claim to have been brought 

 to Patna from Jeypore by Raman Deo, and pride themselves in being 

 still loyal and Khalsa subjects of his descendants. Further indications 

 of decayed prosperity and past enterprise might be adduced and not 

 least, this, the minute respectability and intelligence of some of the 

 Zemindars and Grountiahs of old families ; but enough perhaps has 

 been noticed to prove that there is just ground for the boast of the 

 Patna people that their country was once thickly populated and 

 flourishing to such an extent, that even rich merchants were numbered 

 in it up to the time when anarchy at first, and the depredations of the 

 Mahrattas afterwards, compelled them to depart — till the occurrence of 

 these events, which now remain to be noticed, it is believed, then, 

 that the attention of the rulers of Patna, 20' in succession, was given 

 to the welfare and prosperity of their country and subjects. 



Cause of decline of power and prosperity. — Hindur Shah Deo, 

 the 20th Maharajah of Patna, died, leaving two young sons, the eldest 

 named Raee Singh Deo under the guardianship of his younger brother, 

 their uncle, Buckraj Singh. This uncle, in view to the usurpation of 

 the Guddee, murdered the mother of the two boys and intended also to 

 kill the latter. But he was frustrated in this intention. For the boys 

 were earned off in security to Phooljur by their maternal uncle and 

 there brought up. Raee Singh Deo, on coming to age, sought assistance 

 from Nagpore, and, procuring a force of Mahrattas, proceeded to regain 

 his rights. He attacked and killed his uncle, and thus obtained 

 possession of his estate. But, hoAvcver much this was beneficial to< 



