Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/440

 432 SUL over Rawan, for he had thereby incurred the guilt of Brahmanicide. His spiritual advisers accordingly set to work to find the means of effecting his purification, and a moral Bethesda so to say was discovered in a particular part of the Gumti in the present village of Rajapatti, bathing at which was pronounced to be efficacious for the purpose. Rama per- formed the enjoined ablution and his guilt was thereby removed. The spot was thus sanctified thenceforward and received the appellation of Dhopáp, which being interpreted signifies the place that "cleanseth away sin. Fairs are held here similar to those at Sitakund, but the Jeth gathering is somewhat larger. very considerable antiquity as the whole country for more than half a mile around it is covered with broken bricks and pottery. “ The place is said to have belonged to the Bhar Rájas of Kusabhá- wanpur or Sultanpur, but the only name that I could hear of as specially connected with Dhopip was that of Rája Hel or Hela.". Close to Dhopáp are the ruins of an old fort, which, as shown by a local investigation made by a native official a few years ago, in a suit between two landed pro- prietors, is commonly known as Garh or Shergarh. Both these names point to its construction, or reconstruction, by the Súr king Sher Shah, assisted very probably, as some accounts say, by his son Salem Shah. To them also is attributed the first erection of an old mosque in the neighbourhood which was repaired by Safdarjang, and subsequently used as a school, but now for some time altogether deserted. General Cunning- ham mentions several carved stones which have been collected by the people from the ruined fort, and says that they point unmistakeably to the existence at some former period of a large temple at Dhopáp, probably one only of a considerable number at that place. "I obtained," says the same writer, "coins of many of the early Muhammadan kings, from Nasír-ud-din Mahmúd Ghori down to Akbar, but not a single specimen of any Hindu coinage, although I was informed that coins bearing figures are found every year during the rainy season." One particular coin of this kind is better remembered than any other by the villagers; it was picked up shortly after annexation, and is said to have contained the device of a cone on one side and a flag on the other, Páparghát..Saflarjang, having established his virtual independence of the Mughal emperor, determined to build a new capital. He selected as the site for it the high bank of the Gumti overlooking Páparghát in the village of Shábpur, pargana Chánda, and, but for the accident of a sickly season, that now comparatively, unknown locality might have enjoyed the celebrity that afterwards fell to the lot of Fyzabad. The construction of a fort was commenced, and the walls had already risen to some height, when the emperor receiving intelligence of this presump- tuous act of his now independent, but still nominal minister, sent him mes sages of congratulation, and a "khilat" (dress of honour), to all outward
 * The site of Dhopáp," says General Cunningham," is evidently one of a