These days I have been reading a lot of books on History and Archaeology. On the Bihar Diwas I felt like sharing an interesting extract from the Ain-i-Akbari about Bihar in the medieval times. It makes interesting reading, especially since the description is now almost 500 years old.

EXTRACT FROM AIN-I-AKBARI

THE SUBAH OF BIHAR

It is situated in the second climate. Its length from Gadhi to Rohtas is 120 kos,  its breadth from Tirhut to the northern mountains, 110 kos. On its eastern boundary is Bengal; to the west lie Allahabad and Oudh. On the north and south it is bounded by hills of considerable elevation. Its chief rivers are the Ganges and the Son. Whatever of wood or leather and the like falls into the Son becomes petrified. The head springs of these three rivers, the Son, the Narbada and the Johila, bubble up from asingle reedbed in the neighbourhood of Gadha (Mandla). The Son is pleasant to the taste, wholesome and cool; flowing in a northerly direction, it joins the Ganges near Maner. The Gandak flows from the north and unites with the Ganges near Hajipur. Such as drink of it suffer from a swelling in the throat (goiter) which gradually increases, especially in young children, to the size of cocoanut.

The Saligrama is a small black stone which the Hindus account among divine objects and pay it great veneration. It is round and small and unctuous, they hold it in the highest regard and according to the variety of its form, different names and properties are ascribed to it. The generality have a single perforation, others more and some are without any. They contain gold ore. Some say a worm is bred within which eats its way through; others maintain that it works its way in from the outside. The Hindus have written a considerable work on the qualities of this stone. According to the Brahmanical creed, every idol that is broken loses its claim to veneration, but with these it is not so. They are found in the Son for a distance of 40 kos between its northernmost extremity and the south of the hills.

The Karmanasa flowing from the South unites with the Ganges near Chausa. Its waters are regarded with aversion. The Punpun flows also from the south and joins the Ganges near Patna. The smaller rivers of this Subah cannot be recorded. The summer months are intensely hot, while the winter is temperate. Warm garments are not worn for more than two months. The rains continue during six months and throughout the year the country is green and fertile. No severe winds blow nor clouds of dust prevail. Agriculture flourishes in a high degree, especially the cultivation of rice which for its quality and quantity is rarely to be equaled. Kisari is the name of a pulse, resembling peas, eaten by the poor, but is unwholesome.  sugarcane is abundant and of excellent quality. Betel-leaf, especially the kind called Maghi, is delicate and beautiful in colour, thin in texture, fragrant and pleasant to the taste. Fruits and flowers are in great plenty. At Maner, a flower grows named Muchakand, somewhat like the flower of the Dhatura, very fragrant and found nowhere else. Milk is rich in quality and cheap. The custom of dividing the crops is not very prevalent. The husbandman pays his rents in person and on the first occasion presents himself in his best attire. The houses for the most part are roofed with tiles. Good elephants are procurable in plenty and boats likewise. Horses and camels are scarce. Parrots abound and a fine species of the goat of the Barbary breed which they castrate, from there treme fatness they are unable to walk and are carried on litters. The fighting cocks are famous. Game is abundant. Gilded glass is manufactured here.

In the Sarkar of Bihar,near the village of Rajgir is a quarry of stone resembling marble, of which ornaments are made. Good paper is here manufactured. Gaya the place of Hindu pilgrimage, is in this province, it is also called Brahma Gaya being dedicated to the Brahma. Precious stones from foreign ports are brought here and a constant traffic carried on.

In the Sarkar of Hajipur the fruits Kathal and Barhal grow in abundance. The former attains such a size that a man can with difficuly carry one.

In the Sarkar of Champaran the seed of vetch Mash is cast on unploughed soil where it grows without labour or tilling. Ong pepper grows wild in the forests.

Tirhut has from immemorial time been a seat of Hindu learning. Its climate is excellent. Milk curds keep for a year without alteration. If those who sell milk adulterate it with water, some mysterious accident befalls them. The buffaloes are so savage that they will attack a tiger. There are many lakes and in one of them the water never decreases, and its depth is unfathomable. Groves of orange trees extend to a distance of thirty kos, delighting the eye. In the rainy season gazelle and deer and tiger frequent together the cultivated sports and are hunted by the inhabitants. Many of these with broken limbs are loosened in an enclosure, and they take them at their leisure.

Rohtas is a stronghold on the summit of a lofty mountain, difficult to access. It has a circumference of 14 kos and the land is cultivated. It contains many springs, has wherever the soil is excavated to the depth of three or four yards, water is visible. In the rainy season lakes are formed, and more than two hundred waterfalls gladden the eye and ear. The climate is remarkably healthy.

This Subah contains seven Sarkars (Bihar, Monghyr, Champaran, Hajipur, Saran, Tirhut and Purnea) subdivided into 199 Parganahs. The gross revenue is 22 crores, 19 lakhs, 19,424.5 dams (Rs. 55,47,985-1-3). Of these Parganahs, 138, pay revenue in cash from crops charged at special rates. The extent of measured land is 24 lakhs, 44,120 bighas, yielding a revenue of 17 crores, 26 lakhs, 81,774 dams (Rs. 43,17,944) in cash. The remaining 61  Parganahs are rated at 4 crores, 22 lakhs, 37, 630.5 dams (Rs. 12,30,940-12-5) out of which 22 lakhs, 71,174 dams are Suyurghal (Rs. 56,803-8-10). The province furnishes 11,415 Cavalry, 449,350 infantry and 100 boats.