Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/364

 310 THE MEMOIRS OF JAHANGIR " a village." Near this place there is a stream of water in a ravine which empties into a tank about a bow- shot in breadth. As the place was not destitute of charms, I remained there for a short time. I asked the Gakkars what the depth of the water was. They gave no specific answer, but said: " We have heard from our fathers that there are alligators in this water which wound and kill every animal that goes into it, so that no one dares to enter it." I ordered a sheep to be thrown into the water, which swam around the whole tank and came out safe. After that I ordered a swimmer to go in and he also emerged unharmed, thus proving that there was no foundation for what the Gakkars asserted. On Monday I encamped at Kharbuza, which receives its name of " melon " from the shape of a domed struc- ture erected here in ancient days by the Gakkars for the collection of toll from travellers. The following day, the camp moved to Kala-pani, which means in Hindi " black water." On this march the road passes. a hill called Margalla. Mar, in Hindi, signifies " to rob on the highway," while galla denotes " a caravan," so that the entire name implies a place where caravans are plundered. This hill forms the boundary of the coun- try of the Gakkars, who are strange fellows, always squabbling and fighting with one another. I did all I could to effect a reconciliation, but without effect. On Wednesday, our camp was at Baba Hasan Abdal. About a league to the east of this place there is a cascade, over wnich the water flows with great rapidity.