or the country of the Bundelas, an extensive province of Hindustan, bounded on the W. and N.W. by the dominions of Scindia; on the N.E. by the Jumna, dividing it from the Doab; on the E. by Rewa or Baghelcund; and on the S. by the Saunger and Ner-budda territories. It lies between Lat. 23° 52' and 26° 26', Long. 77° 53' and 81° 39', and contains an area of 18,089 square miles. The plains of Bundelcund are intersected by three mountain ranges, named respectively the Bindachal, Punna, and Bandair chains, the highest having an elevation in no place exceeding 2000 feet above the level of the sea. Beyond these ranges the country is further diversified by isolated hills of a remarkable character, rising abruptly from a common level, and presenting from their steep and nearly inaccessible scarps eligible sites for castles and strongholds, whence the mountaineers of Bundelcund have frequently set at defiance the most powerful of the native states of India.

The general slope of the country is towards the N.E., as indicated by the course of the rivers which traverse or bound the territory, and finally discharge themselves into the Jumna. The Sindh, rising near Sirooj in Malwa, marks the frontier line of Bundelcund on the side of Gwalior. Parallel to this river, but more to the eastward, is the course of the Betwa. Still further to the east flows the Cane, followed in succession by the Baighin, Puisumi, and Tons. The province is further intersected by the tributaries of these rivers, but notwithstanding the large number of these streams, the depression of their channels, and height of their banks render them for the most part unsuitable for the purposes of irrigation,—recourse for which is constantly had to jheels and tanks. These artificial lakes are usually formed by throwing an embankment across the lower extremities of valleys, and thus arresting and accumulating the waters flowing through them. Some of these tanks are of great capacity; as, for instance, the Burwa Sagur, which is two miles and a half in diameter.

The mineral resources of this tract appear to be considerable. The most valuable of all fossils, diamonds, have been found, particularly near the town of Punna. The mines producing them are situated in a range of hills called by the natives Bund-Ahbil, extending above twenty miles in length by between two and three in breadth, and are said to be partitioned into twenty-one divisions. Of these, the mines of Maharajepoor, Rajepoor, Kinnermah, and Guddaseah, contain the finest diamonds; and one dug from the last has been reputed the largest in the world. It was kept in the fort of Callinger, among other treasures of Rajah Himmut Bahadur. Several different rajahs are proprietors of the mines, each having the charge of his own, without any interest in the produce of the rest. In the reign of the emperor Achar, the mines of Punna produced to the amount of L100,000 annually, and were then a considerable source of revenue; but for many years they have not been nearly so profitable.

As already intimated, the country at a distance from the mountains is agreeably diversified with clusters of eminences or small hills, separate from each other, exhibiting a picturesque appearance; and the inhabitants invariably build their villages at the bottom of a hill. The arboreous vegetation consists rather of jungle or copse than forest, within which game abounds, and is preserved by the native chiefs. There are also within these coverts several varieties of wild animals, among which may be enumerated the tiger, leopard, hyena, wolf, wild boar, nilgaw (Antelope pica), and jackal.

The population is of various lineage. The Bundelas—the race who are always found in the capacity of chiefs, and who disdain to cultivate the soil—are represented as by no means conspicuous for lofty sentiments of honour or morality. Among the Rajpoot Bundelas, rare examples of self-devotion are not indeed wanting, as instanced at Adyjgur upon its evacuation by the garrison, when besieged by the British. The removal of the family of the refractory zemindar who had occasioned hostilities having been directed, his father-in-law was desired to prepare the females of the family for it. Instead of doing so, however, he murdered the whole with their children, eight in number, and then put an end to his own life; and what was more extraordinary, the massacre to all appearance had been perpetrated with the consent of the victims; since those who watched without heard no noise to indicate that the sufferers had made resistance. Still, however, the Bundelas are stated to be infamous for treachery and cheating, and an Indian proverb avers, that "one native of Bundelcund commits as much fraud as a hundred Dhunlees" (weighers of grain and notorious rogues). About Duttace and Jhansi they are a stout and handsome race of men, exhibiting an appearance of opulence and contentment. They commonly go armed with a bow and spear, both of which are of excellent quality; and they know very well how to use them. They testify no apprehension in engaging veteran troops. Owing to the intestine commotions which long pervaded this district, every man carried arms; and many, availing themselves of superior force, attacked and plundered travellers, or levied contributions from them on pretence of guarding the passes which they had necessarily to traverse among the hills. Besides the Rajpoots, there are the Brahminical Bundelas. The prevailing religion is Brahminism. One of its revolting observances, the practice of Suttee, formerly so prevalent, has at length been absolutely prohibited by the paramount power throughout the native states of Bundelcund.

Bundelcund is partly British and partly native territory. The British portion consists of the districts of Banda, Hummerpoor and Calpee, Jaloun, Jeitpoor, Churpngon, and the ceded Pergunnahs of Duboi and Gurota, and comprises an area of 7181 square miles. The remainder, containing an area of 10,918 square miles, is distributed among thirty-three petty native states, the chief of which are Adyjgur, Bijawur, Charikaree, Clutterpoor, Duttace, Jhansi, Oorcha or Terree, Purnah, and Sumptur. With these principalities the British government has entered into engagements, in which its supremacy is recognised by all. Some are tributary, others are exempt from pecuniary payment. The total population of the country, British and native, is returned at 2,260,714.

Chandra Varma, chief of the Chundel Rajpoots, appears to have established the earliest paramount power in Bundelcund towards the close of the ninth century. Under this dynasty the country attained its greatest splendour in the early part of the eleventh century, where its rajah, whose dominions extended from the Jumna to the Nerudda, marched at the head of 36,000 horse and 45,000 foot, with 640 elephants, to oppose the invasion of Mahmood of Ghizni. In the year 1183, Parmal Deo, the twentieth ruler in succession from Chandra Varma, was overthrown by Pirtli Rajah, the ruler of Ajmere and Delhi; after which the country remained in ruinous anarchy until the close of the fourteenth century, when the Bundelas, a spurious offset of the Garwha tribe of Rajpoots, established themselves on the right bank of the Jumna. Early in the sixteenth century it is said that a Bundela, living in Benares, removed to a fort in the district of Oorcha, then governed by a rajah, whose confidence he speedily obtained. This Bundela had a daughter of exquisite beauty, of whom the rajah became enamoured, and demanded her in marriage. But her father, considering the proposal as a grievous insult from one whom certain circumstances now unknown prompted him to regard as his inferior in rank, he, in concert with his daughter, plotted a diabolical revenge. Acquiescence was given on the part of both; and the rajah was invited by his bride to the house of the Bundela, where the ceremony was to be performed. Here a magnificent entertainment was prepared, of which he partook plentifully along with his attendants; but it was soon succeeded by excruciating tortures; poison had been treacherously administered; and when the victims became incapable of defence, they were barbarously massacred. The Bundela then placed himself on the musnad of the rajah, which he enjoyed peaceably until his death. His great grandson, Birsing Deo, succeeded in further aggrandising the Bundela state, but he is represented to have been a notorious plunderer; and his character is further stained by the assassination of the celebrated Abul-Fazl, prime minister of Akbar, which is said to have been committed in compliance with the wishes of Jehangier, the emperor's son, who was jealous of the Abul-Fazl's influence over his father. Jajjar Singh, the successor of Birsing Deo, having revolted against the court of Delhi, was driven into exile, and his country became incorporated with the empire. This arrangement, however, was merely temporary, and the struggles of the Bundelas for independence resulted in the withdrawal of the royal forces, and the admission of several petty states among the feudatories of the empire, on condition of military service. Descending to a later period, we find that this territory was invaded during the government of the rajah Chattersaul, about the middle of last century, by the chief of Furruckabad; and the rajah, to aid him in repelling the enemy, applied for support to the peishwa Sewai Bajerow. Success having attended them, he adopted Sewai Bajerow as his son, and partitioned Bundelcund between him and his own sons, allotting him a third of his dominions, the land revenue of which was estimated at about £1,300,000 sterling; but under an express stipulation that his posterity should be protected by the peishwa in independent possession of the remainder. The rest of his male issue, said to exceed fifty, were in a state of dependence on their two brothers. In time this division opened the way to dissensions, a civil war ensued, and the consequent weakness of the chiefs afforded an opportunity for other invasions. Ali Bahauder, an illegitimate grandson of Bajerow, held a command in the army of Seirdia, the noted Mahratta chief; and in the same army was the rajah Himmut Bahauder, who not only commanded a great body of cavalry, but was the spiritual head and military leader of a numerous sect of devotees, called Gosseins. In 1792 these two chiefs attempted the subjugation of Bundelcund. Their purpose, however, was but partially effected. An arrangement had been made with the peishwa, whereby he was acknowledged lord paramount of all the conquests effected in Bundelcund by Ali Bahauder, who engaged to obey him as his sovereign, and to pay him tribute. But the latter contrived to evade both conditions; and, after being occupied fourteen years in endeavouring to subjugate the country, died in 1802, during the blockade of Callinger, which, during ten years, he had fruitlessly endeavoured to capture. Ali was succeeded by his eldest son, Shumshere Bahauder, then absent at Poomah; and Himmut Bahauder, who, to retain his own influence, had for years been exciting dissatisfaction among the different chiefs, now appointed a relation of Shumshere, the young rajah, regent of Bundelcund until his return. Almost immediately after the death of Ali Bahauder, the state of affairs assumed a totally different aspect by the flight of the peishwa from his capital to Bassein, and the treaty there concluded between that prince and the British government, by which the Bundelcund districts of Banda and Hummerpoor were transferred to the latter. Of the two chiefs who, while ostensibly yielding obedience to the peishwa, substantially held the ceded districts, Himmut Bahauder promoted the views of the British, while Shumshere made common cause with the Mahrattas against them. In September 1803, Colonel Powell crossed the river Jumna for the purpose of entering Bundelcund, and was joined by Himmut, with a body of thirteen or fourteen thousand men. The united forces, arriving on the banks of the river Cane, which passes the fort of Callinger and falls into the Jumna near the town of Oorcha, found the army of Shumshere on the opposite side. It was numerous, occupied a great extent, and was strongly posted; but after a short cannonade on both sides it precipitately retreated. Since this period military operations have occasionally been deemed indispensable to the firm establishment of the British power in Bundelcund. In 1809 the fortress of Adiyanpur was besieged by a British force. Three years later, the chief of the celebrated hill fort of Callinger having set the British authorities at defiance, it became necessary to invest the stronghold. This fort is built on a lofty rock, of great extent, and was formerly deemed by the natives to be impregnable. The walls are said to be six or seven miles in circuit; 170 pieces of cannon have been mounted on them; and a garrison of 5000 men was necessary for their defence. Nevertheless, its natural strength has enabled a smaller number to sustain long sieges; and the earlier invaders of Bundelcund have been compelled to retire, after unsuccessful blockades protracted during several years. The British force in attempting to take it by storm, was repulsed with great slaughter; but the garrison probably dreading a repetition of the assault, surrendered the place a few days afterwards. In 1817, by the treaty of Poonah, the British government acquired from the peishwa all his rights, interests, and pretensions, feudal, territorial, or pecuniary, in Bundelcund. In carrying out the provisions of the treaty, an assurance was given by the British government that the rights of those interested in the transfer should be scrupulously respected; and the host of petty native principalities, by which the province is interlaced, is the best proof of the sincerity and good faith in which it was given.