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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1887.
it the Rausa.He then desired to build afterwards I shall drive him to the punishment a town to the west of the village called Mard- of Chell] fire and an ill journey shall it be." qull'ai, and to cause the water of the Tarnak, After finishing the town he named it Ahmad. which rivals in sweetness that of the Tasnim shahi, and lived in it at ease and with comfort. and Kaugar, to flow through the streets, but The following year he sent his Wazir, Shah here again the Bårukzái tribe objected like the Wall Khan, in command of six thousand cavalry Alukzâis. Accordingly Ahmad Shah, who was of with orders to subjugate the districts of Balkh a meek disposition, abstained also from offending and Badakhshan, but after the departure of it, and waited till the Pôpalzáis, who were his the Wazir, Shah Murad Khan, the Hâkim of kindred and sympathized with him, told Bukhårå marched to the aid of the people him to build a town in any part of their of Balkh, and the said Wazir reported the possessions he might approve of.' Ahmad Shah, movement by letter. The Padshah, having pleased with the offer, selected twelve acres of despatched another force to Balkh, himself then land whereon to settle and to build honses, marched by the Hirât route, and having crossed and fraternally invited men of the Durrani and the Mary Rad, conquered Maimana, together other tribes to do so also. He got some builders with Andikhở and Shabarghân, and ordered of Hindustan and of Iran, who were at hand, Shah Wali Khân to subjugate Qunduz and to construct a very strong wall around the habi- Badakhshan, whilst he himself intended to take tations, and a large dome over the centre of the Bukhark. Shih Muråd Khan on his part ad. town where four streets met, the foundation vanced with a numerous army as far as Qarshi of the tower being thirty cabits in length and to attack Ahmad Shah Darrini, but the latter As many in breadth. I have, however, heard, found it convenient as a measure of precaution that the chief architect, who was an Indian to broach negotiations; and a treaty of peace and an excellent geometrician, had, after he was concluded, making the river Amûya (Ozus] built up the tower and erected the scaffolding the boundary between the two States, with for the dome, refused to construct it, and when stipulation to send the cloak of the apostle Ahmad Shah greatly pressed him, he secretly of Allah (the benediction of Allah be upon fled in the direction of Nishậpûr. After that him and upon his family), which had been in the Shah invited others to complete the dome, the possession of Sultan, Vais Qarni, bat had but its span being so great, all declared their during the lapse of time been appropriated by inability to attempt such a task. Accordingly the rulers of Bukhari, -to Ahmad Shah for the edifice remained in this unfinished state, till the purpose of venerating it. six months afterwards, when the former archi- . Accordingly Shah Murad despatched the test again made his appearance, and sverred blessed cloak with all due honours and pomp that the dome would have tambled down, if he to Ahmad Shah, who [apparently) looked had constructed it before the due settlement of apon it as a great acquisition and celestial the foundation, but that as that had now taken favour, and after presenting gifts and bestowing place, he would finish his work. Accordingly alms, considered it a high honour to venerate he constructed & very strong dome and was it; although he knew that no cloak of the handsomely rewarded. When the rampart, the prophet was in the possession of any man, and tower, and the fosse had been completed, the that a person who kept one in honour and Shâh convoked Shekhs, Sayyids, 'Ulama, venerated it, did so only for the sake of the and Faqirs, to whom he made presents, and profit to be derived therefrom! He took the offering his vows he uttered the invocation : garment and departed there with to Qandahår, "Lord make this a territory of security, and but the guardians of this blessed cloak, most bounteously bestow fruits on such of the of whom were Azbaks, perceiving beforehand inhabitants as believe in Allah and the last what was going to take place, opened the holy day; and Allah replied, and whosoever believ. casket one night and cutting out a patoh, which eth not, I shall bestow upon him but little; had come in contact with the blessed seal of
Meaning garden, and hence a mausoleum generally fit should be remembered that this is a Báruksai's Kurrounded by a garden. The word is used in this version of the Affair.-ED.) Crordn, ch. i. v. 130. derived sense also all over India.
Khirqat, garment made of shreds and patohes, • Names of two rivers in Paradise.
religious habit or cloak.
