200 
J. Wise —On the Bar ah Bhuyas of Eastern Bengal. [No. 3, 
surface is traversed by numerous rivers which flow through a hilly and 
generally barren country. It is the home of the Sal tree and of the wild 
date palm; and at the present day various Hinduized tribes, calling 
themselves Kochh-Mandai and Surajbansl, are found settled in villages 
throughout the forest. Its most northern portion, still known as Ran- 
Bhowal, formerly belonged to the kingdom of Kamrup. 
In this tract are three places, called Rajabari, the residence, according 
to local tradition, of three of the Pal Rajas. Pour miles west of the 
modern Kapasia Thanali, is the abode of Sisu Pal; at Shabar, on the 
Dhalasari, is the Kot-bari, or fort, still in perfect preservation, of Harish- 
chandra Pal; and on the right bank of the Turag river in parganah 
Talibabad, are the ruins of the Rajabari of Jas Pal. Regarding these 
different rulers scarcely any thing survives. At Dhamrai, on the western 
border of Bhowal and near Shabar, is a very famous image known as Jas 
Madhava, which tradition says was found many centuries ago amid the 
ruins of the abode of Jas Pal. This image, made of “ nim” wood, painted 
green, is Hindu in character, and according to the priests represents Krishna. 
On the head of the god, who has four arms, is a tall turretted crown, and 
at each side are two female figures. At the Rath-jatra, a great festival is 
held, and the image is dragged on a car from the temple to a house at the 
opposite end of the town. 
This is the only record that connects the ancient and modern histories 
of Bliowed. 
The next event in the history of Bhowal belongs to the Bhuya rule. 
In the sixteenth century, this and several adjoining parganahs were 
administered by a family known as the Ghazi. 
They traced their descent from one Pahlawan Shah, who lived nineteen 
generations, or 570 years, ago. 
It is evident from the traditions still lingering among the people that 
the first Muhammadan conquest of Bengal, to the south and east of Gaur, 
was accomplished by forces of armed fanatics, who warred for “ the faith” 
without any authority from the court of Dihli. 
About the beginning of the fourteenth century, Pahlawan Shah had 
acquired great renown as a leader of these enthusiastic warriors. His son 
Kar-farma Sahib,* was a very holy man. On one occasion, he visited 
Dihli, where he performed a miraculous feat by uniting the two roofs of a 
building, which all the court architects had failed to do. The emperor 
sent for him, and enquired what could be done to serve him. He replied 
* Mr. Blochmann informs me that he has never met with this title in any Muham¬ 
madan author I am told, however, that in Calcutta several families of Sonar Bauiks 
have the title Kath-farma, and in Eastern Bengal Kar-kun, Ivar-pardaz, and similar titles 
still exist. 
