1838.] 



Description of the Valley of Sondur. 



131 



them in the pages of history a local habitation and a name. Another 

 cause may have operated in keeping the Mahrattas unknown, viz. the 

 apathy of contemporary Mahomedan historians to most matters con- 

 nected with the Hindus. 



The illustrious individual, to whom the mass of the tribe owes its 

 extraordinary elevation, was an officer in the service of the Mahomedan 

 king of Bijapur, named Sivaji Bhonslah, son of Shaji Bhonslah, an 

 officer in the army of the emperor ShakJekan, and grandson of Mdloji, 

 a soldier of fortune under the Nizam Shahi dynasty of Ahmednugger. 

 This celebrated chief, the founder of the Mahratta empire, according 

 to Mr. Orme, drew his lineage from the Rajahs of Chitore, who boast 

 their descent from Porus, and are esteemed the most ancient of Hindu 

 princes and the noblest of the Rajput tribes.* Among the Mackenzie 

 MSS. is one in Mahratti f, giving an account of the kings of the 

 four ages, and especially of the Mahratta kings of Satarah, in which it 

 is stated that the Bhonslah Vamsah family ruled for 1330 years, and 

 that the emperors of Delhi protected the Maharashteras, and gave them 

 lands to the southward of the Nerbudda river. Before Sivaji, however, 

 it must be stated that several Mahratta leaders held high appointments 



* Captain Clunes gives the following legendary account of the origin of the Bhonslah. 

 family. " Bapoo Raoul reigned at Chitoor, in Rajpootana, in the year 134 of the Chris- 

 tian era. The twenty third king of his race had two sons, Bharatsee and Bheemsee. 

 The latter attached himself to the brother-in-law of the Prithee Raj Chohan of Delhi, 

 and obtained permission to possess himself of NepauL lie promoted the worship of 

 Ghoorixknath Mahadeo, the tutelar deity of the country, and with him originated the 

 name ofGhoorka. The Rajpoot tribe, called Bheemsee, still exists in Nepaul. A chief 

 of this family is said to have returned to Rajpootana, in 1443, and assuming the title of 

 Raja, with him originated the states of Doongurpoor named Banswara. The thirteenth 

 ruler of this race, at Doongurpoor, named Abheesee and styled the Maha Rana, left the 

 government to his sister's son, in prejudice of his own children. One of the latter, 

 named Sujunsee, cajme to the Deccan, and entered the service of the king of Beejapoor, 

 who conferred upon him the district of Modhul, comprising 84 villages with the title of 

 Baja. Sujunsee had four sons, Bajee Raja, in whose line descended the Modhulkur 

 estate: the second died without a family ; and from Wolubsye is the Kapseekur Ghor- 

 pkray ; Sugajee, the youngest, had a son, named Bhosajee, from whom is derived all the 

 Bhonslays : he had ten sons ; the eldest settled at Deoolgaom near Patas. and originated 

 the line of the great Swajee : second; at Hingnee, probably Hingungaom ; third, at 

 Bherdee; fourth, at Sawuntwaree, where his descendants have continued to rule ; fifth, 

 at Wawee, out o f which family the father of the present Raja of Satara was adopted : sixth 

 at Moongy, better known as Moongy-Pytan : seventh at Shumboo Mahadeo : eighth, at 

 Botegaom : ninth, Jeentee (Hyderabad road) ; and the tenth at Khunwutta, out of which 

 family the present Raja of Kolapoor's father was adopted. The reader will recognize 

 the descendants of most of these families, at the present daj% hovering about the place 

 where their progenitors settled." 



f Vide the Rev, Mr. Taylor's 1st Report on the Mackenzie MSS. letter D.—Joumal. 



