608 Lieut. Kittoe's Journey through the Forests of Orissa. [July, 



the range of low hills ; this mountain is reckoned the highest in Orissa ; 

 the people assert that there is frost (" pala") on its summit all the 

 year round, and that the cold in the winter months is very great ; the 

 latter assertion I can easily credit, for it cannot be less than 4,000 feet 

 above the level of the sea, perhaps more. I hope at some future period 

 to be able to measure its height, and to learn more concerning it, for if 

 all accounts be true, it would be a delightful and salubrious locality 

 for the residence of any European functionary appointed to preside 

 over these ill-governed and ill-fated states. There is a " gurh" or 

 stockade on a shelf of land two-thirds of the way up the mountain on its 

 northern face ; there is said to be a fine tank and beautiful groves of 

 orange* and other fruit trees; the position is considered very strong, and 

 has for many years been resorted to as the place of refuge, (in case of 

 attack) of the Lehrapal Zemindar. The estate of Lehra was formerly one 

 of the eighteen dependencies of Sumbulpur, as I have before said; but 

 some years ago, the uncle of the present Zemindar willed his estate to the 

 Keunjur Raja, or rather gave it to him as a dowry on the marriage of 

 his daughter (an only child.) This questionable act has led, as may well 

 be supposed, to continual feuds between the two powers, the Zemin- 

 dar refusing to pay the homage required by the Keunjur Raja, and 

 the latter refusing to accept the tribute (which amounts to 250 Rupees 

 per annum) unless the former consents to attend once a year at the 

 Keunjur durbar, and there present a nuzzur together with his 

 tribute, dressed in woman's attire, i. e. a Sari and Churis (bangles) 

 on his arms, and in this condition prostrate himself at the Raja's feet. 

 This the Lehra chief has from the first refused to do. 



It is said that the former Rajas of Lehra used to hold their estate on 

 this particular tenure from the Rajas of Sumbulpur, but that the 

 practice had long since been discontinued. Most of the minor 

 " gurhs" were originally held on the like curious tenures, and some 

 even still more absurd, for instance the adjacent state of Rehrakol ; 

 the Zemindar used to perform (once a year) what was termed the 

 " Muggur loth" or alligator's roll, when attending with his tribute on 

 his lord (Sumbulpur). The ceremony is thus described :— the Ze- 

 mindar besmeared himself with mud, and when arrived within a 

 stipulated distance he had to lie down and roll along the ground in 

 that condition to the Raja's feet, which he saluted, his nuzzur was then 

 accepted and he was allowed to rise. 



In consequence of the above mentioned difference between the 



* The states of Talcher, Rehrakdl, and Lehra are famous for oranges of a small 

 size, but very sweet. 



