898 A few Notes on the subject of [No. 155. 



In the years 1666-7 Saka, 1744-8 a.d., the Rohillas twice invaded 

 Kumaon, under their two leaders Nujeeb Khan and Peinda Khan, 

 Though their stay was short,* its ill results to the province are well 

 and bitterly remembered, and its mischievous, though religiously zeal- 

 ous character is still attested by the noseless idols and trunkless 

 elephants of some of the Kumaon temples. The first irruption was 

 only arrested in the very heart of the hills at Ghyr-Mandee,\ near the 

 sources of the Ramgunga. Here the Rajah of Ghurwal, Pruteep 

 Sah, checked the further progress of the Rohillas, and turned them 

 back by a bribe of three lacs of rupees to their leaders ; and, thus, 

 the holy land, which owned his Kumaon neighbour and himself as its 

 princes and guardian, was relieved from its first contamination by 

 Mahommedan contact. 



The second invasion, caused by the discontent of Ali Mahommed at 

 the small spoil brought down to him, was stayed at the very entrance 

 of the hills at Barokheri Pass (between Bhamouree and Bheem Tal,) 

 where the Rohilla force was routed by the minister, Seebdev Joshee 

 and his highlanders, who had seen too much of such visitors in the 

 former year to allow them again to surmount the Gaghur* It is gene- 

 rally believed, that the Rohillas were incited to both attacks by some 

 domestic traitors of the Rotela tribe, one of whom, by name Himmut 

 Sing, had been put to death by the Kumaon Rajah for rebellious con- 

 duct. The complete expulsion of these predatory foreigners from the 

 open plain of the Terrai was found too difficult a task for the Puharree 

 arms ; and, hence, recourse was had to other means. Kullean Chund 

 himself repaired to the camp of the Emperor, then pitched at Sum- 



* Those who object to the hill people of Almorah as being unaccountably and 

 foolishly scrupulous on the subject of kine killing, forget that Benares, Muthra, 

 and other Hindoo localities have been for centuries under direct Mahommedan rule, 

 whereas Kumaon never had one of " the faithful" as its immediate lord. The only 

 Mussulmans formerly known within the hills were certain families of Shikarries and coofa 

 — who received favor at the hands of the Rajahs, the former for killing game, and for 

 ridding the country of wild beasts, the latter for preparing suitable food for any Ma- 

 hommedan guest of rank. The Rajah of Bhurtpoor still entertains a similar class of 

 purveyors. 



f Near this spot is the beautiful country residence of the Kumaon Commis- 

 sioner, which is highly convenient, as being on the borders of both districts, Ku- 

 maon and Gurwal. 



