Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official (Volume 2)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1844. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVII. MARRIAGE OF A JAT CHIEF. On the 19th, we came on to Balumgur, fifteen miles over a plain, better cultivated and more studded with trees than that which we had been coining over for many days before. The water was nearer the surface--more of the fields were irrigated; and those which were not so, looked better; range of sandstone hills, ten miles off to the west, running north and south. Bulumgur is held in rent-free tenure, by a young J at chief, now about ten years of age. He resides in a mud fort, in a handsome palace built in the European fashion. In an extensive orange garden, close outside the fort, he is building a very handsome tomb over the spot where his father's elder brother was buried. The whole is formed of white and black marble, and the fine white sandstone of Roopbass, and so well conceived and executed as to make it evident, that demand is the only thing wanting to cover India with works of art equal to any that were formed in the palmy days of the Mahomedan empire. The Rajah's young sister had just been married to the son of the Jat chief of Naba, who was accompanied in his matrimonial visit (berat) by the chief of Ludora, and the son of the Seikh chief of Puteealee, with a cortege of one hundred elephants, and above fifteen thousand people.* * The Seikh is a military nation formed out of the Jats, (who were without a place among the castes of the Hindoos, ) by that strong bond of union, the love of conquest and plunder. Their religious and civil codes are the Goorunts, books written by their reputed prophets, the last of whom was Gooroo Govind, in whose name Runjeet Sing stamps his gold coins with this legend. The sword, the pot victory, and conquest, were quickly found in the grace of Gooroo Govind Sing. This prophet died ins...