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AUGUST, 1874.]
SKETCH OF UMRI.
231
made great progress in the territories with which they are most intimately connected. The great majority of them follow secular pursuits.
Sect seems to have greater sway in the Karnataka than Caste. Hence we have Smartas, 'observers of the Smritis,' or followers of Sankaracharya, who are Vedântists; Madh vad or followers of Madhvacharya; R & m&nu. j8s, Lingayats, Jainas, and devotees and
wanderers of all classes. Of existing sects and castes, too, there are many varieties, extending oven to agriculturists and artizans, who are noted for their zeal; but this subject need not be here entered on in detail. It is principally in the collectorates of Dhårvad and part of that of Belgår above the Ghâţs, and in that of Kanara below the Ghâţs that in the Bombay Presidency the Kanarese language is spoken.
SKETCH OF UMRI.
BY C. A. SCANLAN, TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY. The whole of the area round the sources good ruler, he resigned the reins of government to of the Kunu river is split up into little terri. Amar Sing, the son of Pratap Sing, and retired tories presided over by the petty chieftains of to the court of Jahangir, who had by this time Bhadaura, Umri, and Sirsi, the two former of succeeded Akbar. He was made a Diwan and rewhom are allied by family ties, and the inci. ceived Khandar as a jágir, and on his death was dents relating to the family of the one will succeeded by his son Mân Sing, who had given to quito answer for those of the other. Thesd two him the additional grants of land of Sapur and collateral branches of the great Rajput family are Toro. To him succeeded Mokam Sing with posat feud with one another, and so great is their session of Khandar only, being deprived of the rancour that I am of opinion nought but blood- two additional grants in which his father appeared shed would wipe out their hatred. Even in these only to have enjoyed a life-interest. times of the supremacy of British rule, carrying This prince had two sons, Sojan Sing and with it all the wholesome dread it inspires, and Chattar Sing. The latter, owing to some faminotwithstanding the vicinity of a British Political ly dissensions, took up his abode at the imperial in the cantonment of Ganâ, only 8 or 10 miles court, and there growing in favour, he was miles off, these two families still practise raids deputed to take command of the army proceed. into one another's districts, the invariable issue of ing against Kábul. He defeated the enemy at which is bloodshed.
Ghazni, and in recognition of these services the The following narration I have obtained from emperor conferred titles on him, and made him the family archives of the Umri Chief. The Raja lord of 60 villages or 5 barais, namely, Tharonto, is a Sisodia Rajpat descended from the house of Mendpur, Badarw&s, and N&gdo; the remaining Udayapur. Udaya Sing is his progenitor, and was, barai somehow he did not get possession of: after the general manner of native potentates, the it is said to have been situated somewhere near lusty father of an unhappy family of twenty-four Antarbed, in Oudh. After twelve years, Chattar sons, who were always contriving to cut each Sing returned home and died at Tharonto. His other's throats. Of these Sagarji was the fore- son, Pratap Sing, succeeded him, and established a father of the present Raja; he was the youngest friendship with one Nahardil Nawab, who had son and Pratap Sing the eldest: the former receiv- founded Nahargarh. Umri was then in possesed as his patrimony the territory of Sirohi, whilst sion of the Th&kurs called Tågurs; their Chief was the latter succeeded the Råra Udaya Sing, and de- Pailad Sing, who ruled over 49 villages. Pratap prived his brother of his territories. Ho refused Sing, in conjunction with Nahardil, took possession to give any ear to the complaints of Sagarji, who of this territory, gave his sister in marriage to the thereupon complained to the emperor Akbar, Kota Râja, Maharon Råm Sing, who was killed at having previously enlisted the Jaypur Raja's sym. the battle of Dholpur, and appointed his own son, pathy and interest, for he had already married Himmat Sing, Chief of Umri, who, taking part in that Chief's sister.t Akbar then ordered an ad- the above-mentioned battle, was severely wounded vance to be made on Udayapur, and accompanied in it. When the Kota Raja was dying, he appointed his forces in person. The reigning prince, Pratáp Himmat Sing regent, as the heir, Bhim Sing, was Sing, was expelled, and Sagarji assumed the only an infant. Himmat Sing, in conducting the sceptre. He only reigned seven years, for at the affairs of the child-king, was obliged to take up his end of that period, on account of his nephew's residence at Kota, which entailed on him the loss many amiable qualities, and seeing in him a future of three barais, Mendpar, Badarwas, and Nagdo
• Lat. 24° 45' to 25° 0, E. long. 77* 189 to 77 80.
Tod's w ount differs from this; sde Annals of Rajasthan, vol. I. p. 331, or Mad. odn. vol. I. p. 279.-ED.
