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THE
IM PERIAL GAZETTEER
OF INDIA
VOL. IX
BOMJUR n> CENTRAL INDIA
NEW EDITION
PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF HIS MAJESTY'S
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA IN COUNCIL
OXFORD
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
1908
HENRY F ROW DE, M. A.
PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
LONDON, EDINBURGH
NEW YORK AND TORONTO
INTRODUCTORY NOTES
N otes on T raxsm tkration
Vowel- Sounds
a has the sound of a in ‘ woman.’
a has the sound of a in ‘ father.'
e has the vowel-sound in ‘grey/
i has the sound of i in ‘ pin/
i has the sound of i in ‘ police.'
o has the sound of o in * bone.'
u has the sound of u in ‘ bull/
ii has the sound of u in ‘ flute/
ai has the vowel-sound in ‘ mine/
an has the vowel-sound in ‘ house/
It should be stated that no attempt has been made to distinguish
between the long and short sounds of e and o in the Dravidian
languages, which «possess the vowel-sounds in ‘bet’ and ‘hot’ in
addition to those given above. Nor ha$ it been thought necessary
to mark vowels as long in cases where mistakes in pronunciation
were not likely to be made.
Consonants
Most Indian languages have different forms for a number of con­
sonants, such as d, /, r, &c., marked in scientific works by the use
of dots or italics. As the European ear distinguishes these with
difficulty in ordinary pronunciation, it has been considered undesir­
able to embarrass the reader with them; and only two notes are
required. In the first place, the Arabic a strong guttural, has
been represented by k instead of g, which is often used. Secondly,
it should be remarked that aspirated consonants are common; and,
in particular, dh and th (except in Burma) never have the sound of
th in ‘ this ’ or ‘ thin,’ but should be pronounced as in ‘ woodhouse 9
»and ‘boathook.’
iv INTRODUCTORY NOTES
Burmese Words
Burmese and some of the languages on the frontier of China have
the following special sounds :—
aw has the vowel-sound in Maw.’
o and ii are pronounced as in German.
gy is pronounced almost like j in ‘jewel.’
ky is pronounced almost like ch in ‘ church.’
th is pronounced in some cases as in * this/ in some oases as in
‘ thin.’
w after a consonant has the force of uw. Thus, ywa and five
are disyllables, pronounced as if written yuwa and puwe.
It should also be noted that, whereas in Indian words the accent
or stress is distributed almost equally on each syllable, in Burmese
there is a tendency to throw special stress on the last syllable.
General
The names of some places—e.g. Calcutta, Bombay, Lucknow,
Cawnpore—have obtained a popular fixity of spelling, while special
forms have been officially prescribed for others. Names of persons
are often spelt and pronounced differently in different parts of India ;
but the variations have been made as few as possible by assimilating
forms almost alike, especially where a particular spelling has been
generally adopted in English books.
N otes on Money, Prices, W eights and M easures
As the currency of India is based upon the rupee, all statements
with regard to money throughout the Gazetteer have necessarily been
expressed in rupees, nor has it been found possible to add generally
a conversion into sterling. Down to about 1873 t^e gold value of
the rupee (containing 165 grains of pure silver) was approximately
equal to 2s., or one-tenth of a £ ; and for that period it is easy to
convert rupees into sterling by striking off the final cipher (Rs. 1,000
= £100). But after 1873, owing to the depreciation of silver as
compared with gold throughout the world, there came a serious and
progressive fall in the exchange, until at one time the gold value of
the rupee dropped as low as is. In order to provide a remedy for
the heavy loss caused to the Government of India in respect of its
gold payments to be made in England, and also to relieve foreign
trade and finance from the inconvenience due to constant and
unforeseen fluctuations in exchange, it was resolved in 1893 to close
the mints to the free coinage of silver, and thus force up the value of
the rupee by restricting the circulation. The intention was to raise
INTRODUCTORY NOTES V
the exchange value of the rupee to is. 4d., and then introduce a gold
standard (though not necessarily a gold currency) at the rate of Rs. 15
£1. This policy has been completely successful. From 1899 on­
wards the value of the rupee has been maintained, with insignificant
fluctuations, at the proposed rate of is. 4d.; and consequently since
»that date three rupees have been equivalent to two rupees before 1873.
For the intermediate period, between 1873 and 1899, it is manifestly
impossible to adopt any fixed sterling value for a constantly changing
rupee. But since 1899, if it is desired to convert rupees into sterling,
not only must the final cipher be struck off (as before 1873), ^ut
also one-third must be subtracted from the result. Thus Rs. 1,000
= £100—^ = (about) £67.
Another matter in connexion with the expression of money state­
ments in terms of rupees requires to be explained. The method of
numerical notation in India differs from that which prevails through­
out Europe. Large numbers are not punctuated in hundreds of thou­
sands and millions, but in lakhs and crores. A lakh is one hundred
thousand (written out as 1,00,000), and a crore is one hundred lakhs
or ten millions (written out as 1,00,00,000). Consequently, accord­
ing to the exchange value of the rupee, a lakh of rupees (Rs. 1,00,000)
may be read as the equivalent of £10,000 before 1873, an<^ as
equivalent of (about) £6,667 after 1899; while a crore of rupees
(Rs. 1,00,00,000) may similarly be read as the equivalent of
£1,000,000 before 1873, and as the equivalent of (about) £666,667
after 1899.
Finally, it should be mentioned that the rupee is divided into
16 annas, a fraction commonly used for many purposes by both
natives and Europeans. The anna was formerly reckoned as i\d.;
it-" may now be considered as exactly corresponding to rd. The
anna is again subdivided into 12 pies.
The various systems of weights used in India combine uniformity
of scale with immense variations in the weight of units. The scale
used generally throughout Northern India, and less commonly in
Madras and Bombay, may be thus expressed : one maund = 40 seers ;
one seer =16 chittaks or 80 tolas. The actual weight of a seer
varies greatly from District to District, and even from village to
village; but in the standard system the tola is 180 grains Troy
(the exact weight of the rupee), and the seer thus weighs 2-057 lb.,
and the maund 82*28 lb. This standard is used in official reports
and throughout the Gazetteer.
For calculating retail prices, the universal custom in India is to
express them in terms of seers to the rupee. Thus, when prices
change, what varies is not the amount of money to be paid for the
IX t
vi INTRODUCTORY NOTES
same quantity, but the quantity to be obtained for the sam§ amount
of money. In other words, prices in India are quantity prices, not
money prices* When the figure of quantity goes up, this «of course
means that the price has gone down, which is at first sight perplexing
to an English reader. It may, however, be mentioned that quantity
prices are not altogether unknown in England, especially at small
shops, where pennyworths of many groceries can be bought. Eggs,
likewise, are commonly sold at a varying number for the shilling.
If it be desired to convert quantity prices from Indian into English
denominations without having recourse to money prices (which would
often be misleading), the following scale may be adopted—based
upon the assumptions that a seer is exactly 2 lb., and that the value
of the rupee remains constant at is. 4d.: 1 seer per rupee = (about)
3 lb. for 2s.; 2 seers per rupee = (about) 6 lb. for 2s.; and so on.
The name of the unit for square measurement in India generally
is the bigka, which varies greatly in different parts of the country.
But areas have always been expressed throughout the Gazetteer either
in square miles or in acres.
MAPS
IMPERIAL GAZETTEER
OF INDIA
VOLUME IX
Bomjur.—Frontier police outpost in Lakhimpur District, Eastern
Bengal and Assam, situated in 28° 7' N. and 950 43' E., on the left
bank of the Dibang river. The outpost is about 20 miles north of
Sadiya, and is connected with it by a road cut through dense tree forest,
which has to be cleared for some little distance from the roadway for
fear of ambuscades from the hill tribes. Bomjur is the most advanced
point on the north-east frontier of the Indian Empire, and is situated
among wild and magnificent scenery.
Bomong.—One of the three circles into which the Chittagong Hill
Tracts, Eastern Bengal and Assam, are divided for administrative pur­
poses. It occupies the south of the District, lying between 21° 11' and
220 30' N. and 920 6' and 920 42' E., with an area of 2,064 square
miles. It is bounded on the north by the Chakma circle; on the south
and west by the District boundary; and on the east by forest Reserves.
The country consists of a succession of hill ranges and valleys covered
with forest. The population (1901) is 44,075, having increased by
12*5 per cent, since 1891. Most of the people are Maghs, or Ara­
kanese. There are 74 villages, of which Bandarban is the residence
of the Bomong, an hereditary title attaching to the chief who admin­
isters the circle. The present chief is named Cholaphru Chaudhri.
Bonai.—Tributary State of Orissa, Bengal, lying between 210 39'
and 220 8' N. and 84° 30' and 85° 23' E., with an area of 1,2961 square
miles. It is bounded on the north by the State of Gangpur and Singh-
bhfim District; on the east by Keonjhar ; and on the south and west
by Hamra. Bonai is shut in on all sides by rugged forest-clad hills,
intersected by a few passes or gorges which connect it with the
surrounding States. The space within is not one extensive valley but
is interspersed here and there with hills. Most of the hills are densely
wooded to the summit, and except at the regular passes are inaccessible to
beasts of burden. The principal peaks are M ankarnacha (3,639 feet),
1 This figure, which differs from the area shown in the Census Report of 1901, was
supplied by the Surveyor-General.
VOL. IX. B
2 BONAI
Badamgarh (3,525 feet), and Kumritar (3,490 feet). Hog, bear,
tiger, leopard, elephant, deer, and peafowl are met with in the forests.
The Brahmani, the only large river, flows from north to south through
the centre of the State. It receives the drainage of the surrounding hilf
streams, and waters a beautiful and spacious valley containing large
groves of mango and other fruit trees.
Bonai was ceded to the British Government in 1803 under the Treaty
of Deogaon by RaghujI Bhonsla of Nagpur, to whom it was restored by
a special engagement in 1806. It reverted to the British Government
under the provisional agreement concluded with Madhuji Bhonsla
(Appa Sahib) in 1818, and was finally ceded by the treaty of 1826.
The State is ordinarily administered, subject to certain restrictions,
by the Raja, who is required to pay a tribute and to render military
service in time of war. Indra Deo, the grandfather of the present
chief, received the title of Bahadur for his services in suppressing the
Keonjhar rising. During the minority of the present chief the State is
under the direct management of Government. The total revenue is
Rs. 1,30,000, and the tribute is Rs. 500 per annum. The ruling family
claims to have come from Ceylon, but appears to be of aboriginal
Bhuiya origin. In 1905 the State was transferred from Chota Nagpur
to Orissa. The relations of the chief with the British Government are
regulated by a sanad granted in 1899, and reissued in 1905 with a few
verbal changes due to the transfer of the State to Orissa. Under this
sanad the chief was formally recognized and permitted to administer his
territory subject to prescribed conditions, and the tribute was fixed for
a further period of twenty years, at the end of which it is liable to revi­
sion. The chief is under the general control of the Commissioner of
Orissa, who is Superintendent of the Tributary Mahals, as regards all
important matters of administration, including the settlement and collec­
tion of land revenue, the imposition of taxes, the administration of
justice, arrangements connected with excise, salt, and opium, and dis­
putes in which other States are concerned; and he cannot levy import
and export duties or transit dues, unless they are specially authorized
by the Lieutenant-Governor. He is permitted to levy rents and certain
other customary dues from his subjects, and is empowered to pass
sentences of imprisonment up to five years and of fine to the extent of
Rs. 200; but sentences of imprisonment for more than two years and of
fine exceeding Rs. 50 require the confirmation of the Commissioner,
The recorded population increased from 32,120 in 1891 to 38,277
in 1901, the growth being due partly to a more accurate enumeration
and partly to the country having been rendered more accessible by
the Bengal-Nagpur Railway. The inhabitants reside in 217 villages, the
most populous of which are situated in the central valley along the
banks of the Brahmani; for the whole State the density is 30 person^
BONAI 3
per square mile. Hindus number 26,371 and Animists 11,745» The
population consists chiefly of aborigines, the most numerous tribes
being Bhaiyas, Gonds, Hos, Kharias, Mundas, and Pans. .. The Bhuiyas
and Gonds are the most influential classes; they have always shown
a very independent attitude towards the Raja, and within the last
thirty years one rebellion of the Bhuiyas and two of the Gonds have
taken place. The headman of the Bhuiyas, who is called saontt claims
the prerogative of bestowing on the Raja the tika or sign of investiture,
a claim which is, however, not recognized by the chief. The two head­
men or leaders of the Gonds are respectively called mahdpatra and
dandpdt. The saont the mahapatra, and the dandpdt are the only three
fief-holders or sub-proprietors under the Raja, each possessing several
villages and having to render military service to the Raja if required,
besides paying a fixed yearly rental. There is some immigration of
Kols, Mundas, and Oraons from Singhbhum, and of Kaltuyas (Kol-
thas) and Agarias from Sambalpur. These tribes take leases of jungle-
clad tracts and reclaim them, and the area under cultivation is thus
being rapidly extended. The Kaltuya settlers, who are mostly paid
labourers under the Bhuiyas, are very industrious and intelligent culti­
vators ; in some places they bank up the hill streams and utilize for
irrigation the water thereby stored up. Rice is the staple product;
three successive crops are grown in the year—the goradhan or the
earliest highland autumn rice, the ordinary autumn crop, and the winter
rice. Among the minor crops are pulses, maize, and oilseeds ; castor-
oil plants and sugar-cane are largely grown on homestead lands; and
cotton is also extensively cultivated. Pasturage is plentiful. Bonai
possesses large forests, full of valuable trees, such as sal (Shorea
robusta), dsan ( Terminalia tomentosa), pidsdl (Pterocarpus Marsupium),
sism (.Dalbergia Sissoo), and kusum (,Schleichera trijuga). Since these
have been made accessible by the opening of the Bengal-Nagpur Rail­
way, they have formed a valuable source of income to the State. Minor
forest products of value are lac, tasar cocoons, and sabai grass (fschoe-
mum angusHfolium). Gold is found in small quantities in the bed and
banks of the Brahman!; the sand is washed by Jhora Gonds, but their
daily earnings range only from 2 to 4 annas. In 1896 the Bengal Gold
and Silver Company took a prospecting lease from the Raja for three
years, paying a premium of Rs. 25,000, but the enterprise was abandoned
as unprofitable. Iron is found, but is extracted only for local use.
Brass pots and ornaments, pots of a soft black stone, and coarse cotton
cloths are manufactured, but in quantities hardly sufficient to meet the
local demand. The chief imports are European cotton fabrics, salt,
kerosene oil, machine-made thread, and tobacco; and the chief exports
are oilseeds, hides, horns, lac, tasar cocoons, timber, ghiy sabai grass,
and wax. These articles are carried to the railway on pack-bullocks or by
B 2
4 BONAI
coolies ; for want of good roads, carts are seldom used.# An unmetalled
and unbridged road connects Bonaigarh with Raurkela station on the
Bengal-Nagpur Railway, a distance of about 45* miles.
The police force consists of 6 officers and 27 men, besides a body of_
village chauMdars and goraits. A dispensary is maintained by the Sfkte
at Bonaigarh, and at the same place there is a jail with accommodation*
for 50 prisoners. The State also maintains eleven lower primary
schools.
Bonaigarh,—Head-quarters of Bonai State, Bengal, situated in
210 49' N. and 84° 58' E. Population (1901), 1,850. Bonaigarh,
which contains the residence of the Raja, a dispensary, and a jail, is
surrounded on three sides by the Brahman! river, and is further
defended by a high mud wall and moat. It is connected by an
unbridged and unmetalled road about 45 miles in length with Raurkela
station on the Bengal-Nagpur Railway. The site, which is very pictur­
esque, is 505 feet above sea-level.
Bongong.—Subdivision and village in Jessore District, Bengal. See
Bangaon.
Boondee.—State and capital thereof in Rajputana. See Bundi.
Boondelcund.—Historic area in the United Provinces and Central
India. See Bundelkhand.
Bor&m.—Village in the head-quarters subdivision of Manbhum
District, Bengal, situated in 23°2 2'N. and 86° 8' E. It is noteworthy
on account of the Jain remains in the neighbourhood, on the right bank
of the Kasai river. Amid heaps of debris and ruins stand three fine
brick temples. The tower of the largest rises from a base of 26 feet
square to a height of (at present) about 60 feet; the upper portion has
fallen, but the proportions in other temples cf the same type suggest
that the original building must have been about one-third higher than the
present ruins. The chamber occupies only 9 square feet; the images
have been removed. The bricks of which these temples are made are
beautifully fashioned, and appear to have been finished by grinding.
In this respect, and in their style of ornament and workmanship,
these temples resemble the great Buddhist temple of Buddh Gaya
in Bihar.
[Archaeological Survey Report, vol. viii, pp. 184-6.]
Borgaon.—Village in the Valva taluka of Satara District, Bombay,
situated in 17° 5' N. and 740 23' E., 5^ miles north-east of Islampur and
5 miles north-west of Valva. Population (1901), 5,498. It is a large
agricultural village on the right bank of the Kistna. To the north,
adjoining the river, is an interesting modern temple with round-arched
cloisters of brick covered with mortar. The land in the neighbourhood
includes some of the finest Kistna valley black soil.
Borgaon»—Village in the Chikodi taluka of Belgaum District,