Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/469

 MAN 461 The following is drawn from the settlement report :- Before commencing a really reliable history of Manikpur, which I have been enabled at last to compile with the aid of various materials, I will transcribe my predecessor's notes on the Muhammadan settlement of the pargana. "Muhammadan settlements. The settlement of the Sayyads, Sheklis, and Pathans in the country is connected with the semi-mythic stories of Rája Jai Chand and Rája Mánik Chand, two sovereigns of Kanauj, when they came eastward to avoid the dominion of the Musalmans, who were then pushing their way into that part of Hindustan. I will not detail the stories of the loves of the daughter of Jai Chand and King Pithora, Suffice it to say, that tradition asks us to believe that Jai Chand migrated to Karra, and built there the fort still visible on the Ganges in the Alla- habad district. Mánik Chand, his brother, went across the river and built his fort at Mánikpur within sight of the paternal castle." "Sayyad Shaháb-ud-din and Rája Mánik Chand.-In these days a Sayyad, Shaháb-ud-dín of Gardez in Persia, came to Delhi. He found employment in the not uncommon duty of being commissioned to kill somebody. This somebody was Mánik Chand. It is time to believe the account, which says that he met aud killed his enemy in battle, and we should prefer the story that in his first attempt he failed miserably, and returned to Delhi to accomplish by fraud what could not be done by force. He caused 2,000 large camel trunks to be made to hold two men each. He sought allies among some Patháns of Dámghán, a city in his country. In the guise of a merchant he wandered to Mánikpur, and begged to slow his wares to the raja. The result may be guessed. Out leaped the 4,000 concealed heroes, like the Greeks from Trojan (why not Grecian horse), and rivers of blood flowed in the rája's castle, till the rája himself was slain and his force overpowered. Shahab-ud-dín rcigned in his stead, and a place near Mánikpur, called Sháhábad, testifiek to his former existence." “ Dámgháni Pathan.—The Dámgbánis and the Sayyads (having cemented their alliance in the blood of Hindus) were firm friends, and their chief instituted a vast mess or rotatory system of mutual entertain- ments, at which (saith the chronicler) 989 palanquins might be seen col- lected at the door of the entertainer, At one of these festivals given by a Dámgháni,* a Darvesh Makhdúm, the world-wide wanderer (Jabánián Jahángasht), came and asked for food. They jeeringly bade him wait till the occupants of the 989 palanquins had been served. Some Sayyads treated him better, and the blessing of the darvesh was poured on his hospitable entertainers, and after oriental fashion, dating from the days of Isaac, father of Esau and Jacob, he prophesied all good of his hosts. He is said to have originated the title of rája, which is still borne by the chief Sayyads of Mánikpur, Rája Ashúr Ali and Rája Taashshuq Husen, From this date the Dámghánis decreased, and of the former none are to be found in Mánikpur, where it is said no one of the family can go with- out suffering from a headache (!). Two families of this tribe are still living in Latifpur of pargana Rámpur, but they are not zamindars." in Fyzabad, enå in Aghan it is a place of resort to pilgrims. 59.
 * This saint's dargáh or maqbara (I do not know which) is said to be at Kachouch