The Institutes of Akbar 301.2

301.2

But if their claim to be Sayyids was not firmly established, their bravery and valour had become a by-word. Their place in battle was the van (haráwal); they claimed to be the leaders of the onset, and every emperor from the times of Akbar gladly availed himself of the prestige of their name. They delighted in looking upon themselves as Hindustanis (vide p. 336). Their military fame completely threw to the background the renown of the Sayyids of Amrohah, of Manikpur, the Khanzadahs of Mewat, and even families of royal blood as the Çafawis. The Sayyids of Barha are divided into four branches, whose names are—1. Tihanpuri; 2. Chathanúrí, or Chátraurí; 3. Kúndlíwál; 4. Jagnerí. The chief town of the first branch was Jansath; of the second, Sambalharah; of the third, Majharah; of the fourth Bidaulí on the Jamnah. Of these four lines Muhammadan Historians, perhaps accidentally, only mention two, viz., the Kúndlíwál to which Sayyid Mahmud (No. 75) belonged; and the Tihanpúrí, of which Sayyid Khan Jahan was a member.