Twilight of the Sultanate c8.s3.8

c8.s3.8

⁸³ Mewat was so called after the Meos, of obscure origin, claiming descent from Rajputs. According to some Mewat is the Sanskrit *Mīnā-Vati*, rich in fish, while some others derive Meo from Mahes, a word used in driving cattle. The original Meos were probably converted to Islam during the time of Mahmūd of Ghaznī. Throughout the Sultanate period the Meos harassed the kings of Delhi and vice versa right up to the coming of Bābur. During Tīmūr's invasion, Bahādur Nāhar founded the sub-division of the Mewatīs called Khan-Zadas, members of which ruled Mewat for many years. Mewat lay south of Delhi and in Mughal times formed part of the Sūbā of Agra. Its most famous towns were Narnaul, Alwar, Tijārā and Rewari. Today the region comprises of the districts of Mathura and Gurgaon, a considerable portion of Alwar and some of Bharatpur. See Tieffenthaler, III, map where the province is marked; Hunter, Imp. Gaz., 4, 8, ff; Badaonī, Ranking, I, 365 n; Basu's Trs. of T.M.S., 184 n; 209-10 n; Imp. Gaz. U.P., I, 223.