286 V. A. Smith—Observations on some Ohandel 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 bhumiydn or aboriginal, stating, however, that their ancestors 
came from Maniya Garh,t+ which is the ancient fort of the town of Raj- 
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 zaminddrs who are part proprietors of M. Urwdra in Pargana 
Mahoba came from Ajnar in Pargana Jaitpur, whence they were expelled 
by Lodhis and Brahmans in the time of Jagatraéj Bundela (circa 1750 
A. D.); and the Chandels who have a share in Mauza Kaimaha of 
Pargana Mahoba immigrated at a late date from Sheordjpur 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.t 
We have repeatedly made efforts to obtain specimens of the Chandel 
coinage, of which so few pieces 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 dukri (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. 
+ Maniya Deo is the tutelary goddess of the Chandels. Vide J. A.S. B., XLVI. 
Part I, p. 233, and Arch. Rep. VII, 44. 
{ For a brief history of the Rajas of Gidhaur see Statistical Account of Bengal 
(for the Monghyr District) Vol. XV, pp. 71, 72. 
