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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MAY 3, 1872.
was established at Devagad under Jatwa Râja, who joint aid to him. They were directed to join the was formerly a servant of the two Gauli brother | attack on Golkonda or Bhågnagar, whose Rani princes, Ramsur and Ghansur. By treason he revelled in the euphonious name of Nakti Rani deposed them and took possession of the Gadi, Ching Moji Sang Moji. They look her possessions, and then, to his assistance, came the three brothers, and for this good turn, Jatva received in marriage Aha Bankha, Phonj Bhankha and Mah& Bankha, the Nizam's daughter. He of course turned Muhamwith a force of 2,000 mnen. During the conflict madan, and acquired the new title of Bakht Buland, carried on between the opposing forces, Aba and when he returned to Devagad, and assumed the Maha died, and the surviving brother, Phonj Bankha, regal perple. His descendant, Suliman Shah Badreceived as a reward for his services the Balkagarh shah, known as the Gond Råja, now resides at Nagor Khapa Jägir. After affairs had been settled, and pur, while Gopal Sing, the descendant of Phonj Jatva made quite secure on his usurped throne, he, Bankha, is the present Raja of Khapa, and is together with his ally Phonj Bankha, proceeded to put down as in the 14th generation.-Report of the the Nizamnat Haidarabad, and tendered their con- Topographical Surveys for 1869-70.
NOTES, QUERIES, &c. NATIVE TRIBES OF SIKHIM.
high range. This tribe has not yet settled in the The following account of the principal native Darjfling district.-Delhi Gazette, Dec. 30. tribes inhabiting the billy country of the Darjiling territory, we get from the local News. The inoun
MAULMEIN CAVES. tainous country from 1,500 to 4,000 feet above the To ono curious in geology or antiquities, there level of the sea, is inhabited by a warlike, beard
are some interesting natural caves in some lofty less, Mongolian race, named Limbus, who are by turns Hindus, Buddhists, or Polytheista, according
limestone rocks, across a river, at the distance of to circumstances or convenience.
about 10 miles eastward of Maulmein. The rocks From 4,000 to 6,000 feet, the upper limit of cultiva
extend for two or three miles, and rise perpendicution, the Hills are inhabited by Lepchas, Bhotins,
larly to the height of about 500 or 600 feet or even and Murmis. The Lepchas, who are the aborigines
more from the alluvial plain. A few lofty postes of the Darjfling mountains, are a fair and beardless were placed in front on the plain, such as are seen race, Mongolians, Buddhists, omnivorous, and an sometimes in front of Hindu and Buddhist amiable and cheerful race of people. They have & temples, possibly for hoisting flags. The caves written language in their own character. The are at a distance of 20 or 30 yards from the foot of Bhotias are principally from Bhutan, east of the
the rocks, and extend about that distance into the Tista river; they are a phleginatie, heavy, quarrel- mountain. The height is very irregular, and in some race when compared with the Lepchas, many of them have beards and moustaches ; they are
some places may be 30 or 40 feet, with here and Mongolians, Buddhists, are omnivorous, have a
there large stalactites hanging down. I struck written language in the Thibetan character ; they
one of these a smart blow with my stick, and the are an agricultural and pastoral people, depasturing ringing noise that it gave out made the guide and with herds of Yaks on the grassy mountains innme- myself start. This cave is nearly filled with Buddiately under the perpetual snow in summer, and the
dhist images, some are eight or ten yards long, in a forests in the warm valleys during the winter.
reclining posture, but most are sitting. The larger They raise crops of rice, buck-wheat, barley and
are all of brick and chunam, and the smaller, some vegetables. The Murmis are a pastoral and agricultural people,
of which are not more than two feet high, are of departuring with flocks of sheep and goats on the
wood, and formerly all were whitewashed. Nearly grassy mountains near the perpetual snow; they
all are now defaced and in ruins. The breasts of live on the summits and sides of Inountains from
most of the larger had been opened in the hope of 4,000 to 6,000 feet, in stone cottages thatched with finding money or other valuables. A second cave at grase. They are Buddhists, Mongols, and they about a quarter of a mile distant on the N. E. side speak a dialect of Thibetan.
of the rock is empty of images, and appears never The summit of the great Singaloda spur separat
to have had them. This cave extends some 20 yards ing Darjfling on the west from Nepal, is occupied during the summer months by a Hindu pastoral race
into the rock, and is 30 or 40 feet high in its highest from Nepál named Garangs, who from 9,000 up to
part. Torches or candles were necessarily used in 14,500 feet depasture their extensive flocks of sheep viewing both these caves, which, whatever they may (which are guarded by large savage black dogs) once have been, are now only the abode of bate. upon the luxuriously grass-covered summit of this The place is a most lonely one, and is said not to be
