376 Lieut. Kittoes Journey through the Forests o/Orissa. [May, 



in which there are most probably inexhaustible mines of gems and 

 precious metals ; gold is found in many of the streams flowing from 

 the gneiss rocks throughout these tracts, the Heebe among the rest. 



Touching the state of Sumbulpur, it was (previous to its dismem- 

 berment by the Marhatta hordes and its becoming subject to Berar) 

 subdivided into eighteen " gurhs," or chieftainships, held in fief of the 

 Lord Paramount, who resided at Sumbulpur, and called therefore 

 •' Authareh gurh Sumbulpur"-, amongst these were, Boad, Sohnpur, 

 Gangpur, Oodeypur, Phooljur, Sarengurh, Sarinda, Banaie, Baumur- 

 ra, Lehrapal, Rerhakhol, and seven others, including Sumbulpur 

 proper ; most of these however have long since thrown off their allegi- 

 ance and ceased to pay tribute or. to furnish their quota of " Paiks" 

 (militia). Some of the smaller "gurhs" used to be held on very 

 curious tenures, which I shall allude to more particularly in a future 

 page. 



Sumbulpur lapsed to the British Government in 1827 by the death 

 of the late Raja, but for some reason (with which I am not acquaint- 

 ed) they sought for an heir-at-law and conferred it on an obscure and 

 aged Zemindar, and a perfect imbecile, who is now entirely in the 

 hands of his crafty ministers. These people and the Brahmins possess 

 the best lands, and obtain his sanction to all kinds of extortion ; 

 as a specimen of which, I am informed that Zemindari leases are 

 renewed every year, and on these renewals, or on the occasions of lands 

 being transferred to another, the party favored has to give a " Salami" 

 or fee, and nothing short of gold is accepted ; the farmers in their 

 turn grind their ryots ; the effects of such an unjust and oppressive 

 system are every where apparent. 



It is said that the Raja realizes 7*00,000 Rupees per annum, but 

 4,00,000 is perhaps nearer the mark, including valuable diamonds 

 which are occasionally found ; it is certain that were the province 

 under proper rule, much more could be made of it, therefore it is 

 to be hoped that on the demise of the present Raja, who has no 

 children, the Government will avail itself of the opportunity and 

 resume it; at present it pays us an annual tribute of 8,000 Rupees, 

 500 of which has for some years past been remitted in consideration of 

 the dawk road being kept in repair, and the jungle in its immediate 

 vicinity cleared. 



I was somewhat surprised one morning while taking my ride to see 

 three human heads stuck on a pole at the junction of two roads near 

 the town ; they were placed there in January, 1838, their owners having 

 forfeited them for treason, though not without a protracted and severe 

 struggle. 



