Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/267

 RAE 259 Tradition relates that when the fort was building, whatever was erected during the day fell down in the ensuing night. After some days of such futile labour, the king called for the holy saint Makbđúm Sayyad Jáfri from Jaunpur; his holy footsteps trod the precincts, and no more interrup- tion was given to the work. The saint's tomb is beside the gate of the fort. The magnificent tomb and palace, Rang Mahal of Nawab Jahán Khan, adorn the suburb of Jahánabad. During the reign of Shujá-ud-daula, when the Mahrattas wore hovering round trying to invade Oudh, a number of the degenerate nobles were so terrified that they took up their residence inside the fort, and built themselves houses in which descendants still reside. Since annexation a fine masonry bridge of five arches, twenty-eight feet broad, has been constructed over the Sai; the work was inaugurated by Mr. W. Glynn, the late Deputy Commissioner; the expense (Rs. 36,000) was defrayed by a subscription of the taluqdars. A fine ídgáh or assembly room for the Íd festival was built by Shekh Najaf Ali Khan, the money being subscribed by the Musalmans of the neighbourhood. Several tanks also have been made since annexation; so although the residents may not be so wealthy as they were in former times, they put their means to better use. The population is 11,544, of whom Bareli proper contains 6,542 and Jahanabad 5,002. The Muhammadan population consists of 2,446 Sunnis, and 40 Shias. Notwithstanding, an order had to be passed forbidding the latter to bring their tázias in procession past the houses of the much inore numerous Sunnis. Most of the Hindus are low castes, there being only 372 Brahmans. Sahdeo Singh and Guláb Singh, Sikhs, have a number of followers who reside in the town. The former is the grandson of Mahárája Ranjit Singh, the ruler of the Punjab; the latter was one of his generals ; they are in honourable banishment and have got estates here. There are four fine mosques, besides others of less note, and 337 masonry houses. The Jáma Masjid was built by Sultan Ibráhím Sharqi of Jaun- pur, and repaired in 1089 A.H. by the emperor Alamgir. The second great mosque was built in 1040 A.H. by Nawab Jahan Khan. The third Shah Alam-ulla; it has no domes, but three spacious halls, and is a copy of the Kába at Mecca. The fourth mosque is in the suburb Daira, and was built by a son of Shah Alam-ulla. Two Hindu temples, one to Mabadeo and one to Mahabír, suffice for the less fervent devotions of the Hindus. There are two schools, one with 150 pupils, the other a Christian Mission school with 70. A dispensary and a caravan-serai, built since annexation by Raja Dighijai Singh, are also features of the place; the former stands on the site of another mosque built by Ibrábím Shah at the gate of the fort; thus the ancient king intimated that he trusted for the defence of his realm to the God without whom his walls were vain. This evidence of his devotion has now given place to drugs,