BUNDELCUND, or BANDELKHAND, an exten. sive district of the province of Allehabad, in Hindos tan, between the rivers Cane and Betwah, occupying a superficies of about 11,000 square miles. The south-west frontier lies in about 24° north latitude and 80° 45' east longitude, and the territory extend; about two degrees further north. In general, the fare of this country is mountainous, high, and rocky; its vegetation is scanty, and the inhabitants do not be stow much care on the cultivation of it. The sum mits of many of the hills, however, are covered with low copses, amidst which there is but little grass in terspersed. Other parts of the district exhibit a close jungle ; and there are portions, consisting of fertile soil, which are brought under suitable culture.
The most valuable of all fossils, diamonds, have been long found here, particularly near the town of Puma or Pannah. The mines producing them are situated in a range of hills called Bund-Ahili by the natives, extending above twenty miles in length by between two and three in breadth, and are said to be partitioned into twenty-one divisions ; but we do not know that the whole belong to Bundelcund. Of these, the mines of Maharajepoor, Rajepoor, Kim merah, and Guddaseah, contain the finest diamonds; and one dug from the last has been reputed the largest in the wend. It was kept in the fort of Cal- Boger, among other treasures of Rajah Iiisoarat Bs Iiinisr. Severaldifferent rajahs are proprietors of the mines, each having the charge of his own, with out any interest in the produce of the rest. A su periateedent is appointed to inspect the produce, and every diamond when found is registered, valued, and, if the rajah does not dam to keep it, is offered for de. When told, he receives two-thirds of the value. -In the reign of the Emperor Ad:bar, divinities of Pen well produced to the amount of L.100,000 annually, mil were then a considerable *aurae of revenue ; but for any years theyhave net been nearly so profitable, and it appears that about the year 1750, the govern meet did not derive more from them than equivalent to L.S0,000 per auman. Their present value is not exactly known. According to tradition, the mines were mvored by a fakir or religious mendicant.
The country, at a distance from the mountains, is divendied with dusters of eminences or zre.ritt, etiolate from each other, exhibiting a
picturesque appearance; tend the lahabitaats amnia bly build their villages at 'the bottom of a hill.
They are seldom seen in any other situation, and it is chief` ly artnmd the villages that the swell quantity of pain raised in the district is cultivated. But Boodelcond not being a fertile country in itself, grain is brought from the banks elite Seams andtheGanges. Many ether commodities are supplied /tan the Deccan, or middle region of the peninsula, sand loge herds of but. locks are seen coutinually passing to the hilly part of the tetekery. The forests abound with tigers, and the nhil.jau or white-footed as also thevrild boar, Ithi& are all hunted by the chief men of the country.
The inhabited*, who ore called lioudelas, are a beam aid eratithe people, ententainiag high notions of independence, and impatient of constraint or in. dignity. They act under the deli impulse of those violent passions which sway the inhabitants of the ma, and lead to catastrophes of a nature un known to Europeans. An instance occurred not lag ago, when the fortress of Adjyghur, be sieged by the British troops, nun evacuated by the garrison. The removal of the family of the re fiwetery Zeinindar who had occasioned hostilities having been directed, his ilitheeio-law was desired to ?repave the females of the family for it. Instead of doing so, however, he murdered the whole and their children eight in number, and then put an end to his own existence. But what was still more extraordinary, the perpetration of this horrible deed was with the consent, and without any complaint of the sufferers. The Bondelas are either Bramins or Rajpeots. About Ditteah and Jhansi, - they are a atrat and handsome race of men, exhibit ing an appearance of opulence and content. They eenneonly •go armed with a bow • and spear, both of which are of ernellent quality, ; and they know very well bow to use them. They testify no ap preheneion in engaging veteran troops. Owing to the intestine commotions which long perm& ed this district, every man carried alms; and many, availing themselves of superior force, attach• ed and plundered travellers, or levied a contribution from them, on preterite of guarding the passes which they bad necessarily to traverse *moos the hills.