2G 
Chandrasekhara Banurji —The Kaimur Range. 
[No. 1, 
On the whole, however, the aborigines have been consigned to the lowest 
depths. They live on the hills as wood-cutters and herdsmen, and, when ap¬ 
pearing in our courts, they do so as cattle-lifters only. Unintentional as it 
may be, their abject condition has escaped attention; unknown to the philan¬ 
thropist and unthought of by the legislator, they live the life of the animals 
which surround them. It is high time that something should be done for 
these poor people, when the triumph of peace and of peaceful industry is 
being extended to the remotest corners of the country. 
Wave after wave as the tide of migration touched the foot of these 
hills, its peaks were turned into strongholds for military defence. In the 
remains of the forts, on the summits of the Kaimur Range, we see the ruins 
of greatness of different races. In Pampapur, some miles south of Mirza- 
pur, the ruins of an extensive strong fort mark the rise of the Bhar Raj; 
on the northern slope Raghubirgarh and Simalgarh, defended by the main- 
range on one side and a spur which runs as a belt round them on all other 
sides, yet keep alive the same name. The family of Bhars, who yet own 
the zamindaris round the latter forts, make every attempt to mix with, and 
to be known as, Purihar Rajputs. The Rajputs would, however, recognise 
them only as the descendants of the old Raj Bhars. The Suriyas have also 
some forts in and near Bhubna, the principal one being Sirampur. The 
kot, or castle, of Ramgar, although now occupied by Rajkumars, is said 
to have been originally built by the Cheriis who held sway at Chyapur. 
But the forts which the Aryan Rajputs subsequently erected there, have 
become more famous. On the west, Bijaigarh stands at the elevation of 2,017 
feet, and on the east Rohtas at 1,485 feet. We have already described Fort 
Rohtas.* Bijaigarh was raised by the Gharwar Rajputs, the descendants 
of Maharaj Jaya Chand of Kanauj, when the Muhammadan conquest drove 
them to the eastern country in search of new homes. It stands on a high 
cliff, and gives name to a parganah around it. “ The rock on which the 
fortress stands is so steep,” that it appeared “impregnable” when Mr. E. 
T. Colebrooke visited it in 1798. • It was, however, besieged and reduced 
by Col. Popham when Cheyt Singh took refuge in it, and was restored to 
its old chieftain, from one of whose race the Rajas of Banaras had snatched 
it. Shergarh is the last of the forts which was destined to be the great cita¬ 
del of the Indian Empire, had fortune favoured the ambitious scheme of 
its vigorous founder. It was built by Sher Khan close to his native place, 
about twelve miles from the Grand Trunk Road, south of Jahanabacl, “ amidst 
the most magnificent scenes, and adjacent to one of the richest plains in 
the world.” Its ramparts and bastions and battlements present a more 
imposing show to the places below than fort Rohtas, whose works from 
the height of the rock are not visible from the plain. The ascent to the 
* See Mukarji’s Magazine for 1875. 
