It is said that, in the long
interval from the commencement of the reign of Alexander the third to
the end of that of David the second,[33] not a single baron could be
found in Scotland able to sign his own name. The Bundelkhand barons
have never, I believe, been quite so bad as this, though they have
never yet learned enough to fit them for civil offices under us. Many
of them can write and read their own language, which is that common
to the other countries around them.[34]
Bundelkhand was formerly possessed by another tribe of Rajputs, the
proud Chandels, who have now disappeared altogether from this
province. If one of that tribe can still be found, it is in the
humblest rank of the peasant or the soldier; but its former strength
is indicated by the magnificent artificial lakes and ruined castles
which are traced to them; and by the reverence which is still felt by
the present dominant classes of [_sic_] their old capital of Mahoba.
Within a certain distance around that ruined city no one now dares to
beat the 'nakkara', or great drum used in festivals or processions,
lest the spirits of the old Chandel chiefs who there repose should be
roused to vengeance;[35] and a kingdom could not tempt one of the
Bundelas, Pawars, or Chandels to accept the government of the parish
['mauza'] in which it is situated.
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