1871.] On several 'places in Sub-Division Banka. 33 
He immediately retreated, and never afterwards disturbed Sujun 
in bis possessions. 
19 th January .—Nearly a mile from Poir, is an opening be¬ 
tween two bills called Murtanga, meaning ‘ bead suspended.’ 
It has derived tbis name from the circumstance of a leader of 
the bill men having been executed at the place. His bead was sus¬ 
pended from a tree as a warning to the savages who used to enter 
the country by the pass, and harass the former zamindar of 
Poir by incessant incursions. On one of these bills may be seen 
a temple containing an emblem of Shiva; which is supposed 
to guard over the destiny of tbis now ill-fated family. The em¬ 
blem itself is said to have undergone various vicissitudes of fortune. 
Por some time it was the property of an oilman, who used it as a 
weight for selling oil during the day, and as a press over bis wares 
during the night. Not well pleased with the duty it bad to per¬ 
form, it appeared to the great grandfather of the present zamindar 
of Poir in a dream, and representing its distress, wanted to be 
adored and fed with offerings. The dreamer at first built a temple 
for it in the plains; but as if elated with too sudden prosperity, or 
afraid of being reduced to its former condition, it demanded to be 
located in a temple on the hill. So the present temple was built. 
20 th January .—At Kurmahat, there is a very old brick building, 
the walls of which only are standing. A very good pucka road 
leads from it to some other buildings which are now entirely in ruins. 
These buildings are generally said to be hunting villas of Shah 
Sliuja’, and are therefore called Shikargah by the learned; but ac¬ 
cording to the popular belief, they rose up in one night as if 
by enchantment, and were used by an emperor whom they call 
Pumshah. 
There is a very old well at Poir which is also attributed to the 
same emperor. 
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a 
