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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(NOVEMBER, 1905.
Zérkn and ShAl Khåns, and are much reverenced by the Taris. The charms of the Rumi Khel Sayyids are considered very potent for curing many ailments, and many legends are told about this miracle-working saint:
(i) On one occasion he is said to have presented the building of Mecca to certain Sayyids of the Fakhr-i-Alam Kaol. A stone bearing the names of Allah, the Prophet, Ali and his family is preserved at Zêrán as a testimony of this miracle.
(ii) He is said to have once flung a club from Zêran to Shênai, a distance of about six miles, and as a reward he was given by the Bangash tribes the land between these two places as nasarana, and this his descendants still enjoy
(iii) A woman is said to have taken refuge with him from her enemies and was miraculously transformed into & stone. The marks of ornaments and outlines of human features are still to be seen on it.
Namerous other miracles are said to have been wrought by this saint, whose ancestral home is traced to Rám or Asis Minor.
II. -Mir Ibrahim or Mtr Bim, whose shrine is at Shalozan, is highly revered by the Tarts of Kurram. He is the patron saint of Shalozan, and his descendants, who are called Ibrahim Khel or Imam Masa Kázimt Sayyids, are found in Shalosan. Nurkai, Ahmadsai, and Naat Kot, and are much respected by the people. The shrine of Mir Bim is visited 'both by Sunnis and Shias. Children are shaved, animals and sweetmeats offered, faga hang and vows made for success against enemies at it. Two miracles are ascribed to this saint:
(i) He is said to have increased, at the request of the Shalozanis, the water of a spring which was previously hardly sufficient for the requirements of the people depending upon it.
(ii) A dry, olive-tree is said to have become green, when it was merely touched by this saint.
III. - Sayyid Fakhr-1-Alam, whose shrine is at Karmân, is held in high repute not only by his Karman desciples, bet also by those of Shalozan and other places. His descendants are known as Husain Sayyids and are found at Karman, Shalozan, Darawi, Ali Shêrt, and even in Tirah. Regular fairs are held annually at this shrine at both the Ids and on the Muharram days. People from distant villages attend them. Almost all the visitors are Shtas, Sunnte being very seldom seen. Sheep and goats are slaughtered and dis- tributed among the guardians (mujarara) of
the shrine, and the poople attending the fairs. Prayers are offered to the soul of the saint. The story of a miracle, wrought by this saint, is as follows:
It is said that Ujâj, a tyrannical king, was a great persecutor of the Sayyids, whom he could recognise by a peculiar fragrance which came from their mouths. The Sayyids thereupon rallied round Fakhr-i-Alam and begged him to request the prophet to remove the fragrance, which was so dangerous to them. Fakhr-i-Alam accordingly went to Medina, bowed before the mausoleum of the Prophet and made the request. He then went to sleep, and in a dream saw the Prophet, who told him that his request had been granted. Fikbr-i-Alam then came back to Kur. ram. While passing through the outskirts of Karman, he prayed that the stones and pebbles, which had proved 80 gentle to his bare feet, might be changed into fine white sand. The prayer was heard, and the sand is still seen in its vicinity. He also blessed the fields of Karman, which have since yielded abundant harvests.
IV.-LAIA Gul, whose shrine is at Shakh, is much resorted to both by the Malll Khel and Duperzai Taris and the Muqbils of Kurram. His descendants, who go by the name of LAIA Gul Kawal Sayyids, are found in KharlAcht, Shal KhAna, Sultan and Shakh. Lald Gul is also known as the Yakh-pôsh (endurer of cold) saint. as he passed a night in a pool of frozen water at Istia. According to another legend, he sat on a burning pile of wood without being injured, and in return for this miracle he was given by bis disciples a piece of land near Shakh, which his descendants still enjoy as nazardna. LAIA Gul's father, Burqa-posh, is also much revered by the people. He is said to have requested the Amiru'l Möminin All to show him his face, and on receiving no answer he put on a kafan (windingsheet) and went to the cave of a big serpent, known to be the guardian of a hidden treasure at Pir Ghar, about 2 miles from Kharlacht. As soon as the Burqa-posh (Veiled Prophet) went near the serpent, it lowered its head as a tribute to his virtues. The Burqa-pôsh then took up his abode in the serpent's cave, and it became as harmless and tame as a domestic animal. After a few days three Muqbils of Istia, thinking that the serpent was dead and that Burqa-pôsh was in possession of the treasure, determined to kill him and steal it. But when they neared the cave, the serpent gave a furious hiss and all three were burnt to death. Three black stones are still preserved as evidence of the incident. Burqa-pôsh
