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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 10, p. 177.

C L4RK1I,IRI STATE' 177 outlying portions, situated on the high land which intervenes between the Bindhachal and Manna ranges, border on the diamond-bearing tracts, a few not very productive mines being worked in the Ranipur pargana. The climate, though hotter than that of Malwa, is not oppressive. The annual rainfall averages 43 inches. The formation.of the State dates from 1765. Chhatarsal, the PANNA chief, in 1731 divided his territory into several portions. One of these, with an annual income of 31 lakhs, with its capital at JAITPux, was assigned to his third son, Jagat Raj. At the death of Jagat Raj in 1757, a dispute arose as to the succession. Kirat Singh, the third son, who had been nominated as heir, predeceased his father, and his son Guman Singh attempted to seize the State. Pahar Singh, another son of Jagat Raj, however, forced Guman Singh and his brother Khuman Singh to take refuge in the fort at Charkhari. In 1764 Pahar Singh made terms and assigned territory to his nephews, giving Banda (now in the United Provinces) to Guman Singh, and Charkhari, then estimated to produce 9 lakhs of revenue, to Khuman Singh. Khuman Singh, the first Raja of Charkhari, died in 1782, and was succeeded by his son Bijai Bikramajit Bahadur Singh, who was continually at feud with his relatives, especially with Arjun Singh of Banda, and was ultimately driven out of his State. In 1789 Bijai Bahadur Singh, in hopes of regaining his possessions, joined Ali Bahadur and Himmat Bahadur in their invasion of Bundelkhand, and, entering into engagements of fidelity and allegiance, received from All Bahadur in 1798 a sanad for Charkhari fort and territory worth about 4 lakhs a year. In 1803, when the English entered Bundelkhand; Bijai Bahadur Singh was the first Bundela chief to make terms; and a sanad confirming him in the possession of his land was granted in 1804, another sanad being given in 1811 after the settlement of a dispute regarding certain villages which had been omitted from the previous grant. He died in 1829, and was succeeded by his grandson Ratan Singh, son of his illegitimate son Ranjit Singh, whose eventual succession had been recognized in 1822, when the chief's only legitimate son died. Ratan Singh was confirmed in power, and was admitted to all the rights granted by the sanads of 1804 and 1811. Ratan Singh was the ruler during the Mutiny and loyally supported the British Government by giving asylum to Mr. Carne, Assistant Collector of Mahoba, and helping in the management of neighbouring districts. He was rewarded with a land grant in perpe- tuity of the value of RS. 2o,ooo a year, a hhilat, an hereditary salute of i i guns, and the privilege of adoption, which was subsequently confirmed by sanad in 1862. He died in 186o, and was succeeded by his son jai Singh Deo, a minor. In 1874 this chief obtained administrative powers; but mismanagement necessitated the appointment of a. British officer as Superintendent in 1879, and the withdrawal of the chief's VOL. X. N