Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/159

Rh They were led by the brothers of Rájá Hodi. They were fully armed with every implement of war. They swam the river or crossed it on inflated skins; and like bees they swarmed up the hill, and sat down beneath the walls of Ránithrod. Then passed mutual defiances between the opposing leaders, and the siege began in form. But Rájá Rasálu, though reinforced by fresh supplies of men, soon began to perceive that the struggle was a hopeless one, and that the end could not be far off. Resolving therefore not to be caught like a rat within his walls, but to sell his life as dearly as possible, he ordered his troops to prepare for a sally. The next day he led them down to the plains, and met his enemies hand to hand. The fight raged for several hours. King Rasálu fought like a lion, and many an adversary went down beneath his mighty arm never to rise again. At last his men were forced to give way all along the line, and the King himself wearied out with the long struggle, covered with wounds, and hemmed in by increasing numbers, was slain by an arrow nine yards long, which entered his neck. When the fight was over, his enemies smote off his head and carried it back with them in triumph to the castle of Rájá Hodi.

And thus according to the story-tellers of the Upper Panjáb perished the hero Rájá Rasálu, having outlived the fame and glory of his great exploits.

—This hero was one of three brothers. In the Jelálábád valley he is known as Rájá Hoda or Hudi. His brothers were Aiánposh, and Dárantá. They were the sons of Rájá Afrássá. All three brothers are still remembered in Hádá, a village five miles south of Jelálábád, standing on part of an ancient Buddhist city; in the Aiánposh Tope, on an eminence one mile south of Jelálábád; and in the charming spot Dárantá, about five miles west of Jelálábád, famous for its grand caves and beautiful topes. King Afrássá is said to have reigned from Kábul to Jamrud. I am not sure whether it was Jamrud only which was named Baktá Land or the whole kingdom, but I imagine the tradition refers to the latter. Baktá was the name of the wazir of a still more ancient giant king, named Nausheráwán, who first built the fortress of Jamrud, which still retains ruins of the old solid Buddhist masonry.

These meagre traditions are preserved by the villagers of Hádá, who also state that the three brothers were slain by Ámihamza, who came from Mecca. The villagers of Amerakhel say that many of the topes were built by Rájá "Udi," and that originally the Jelálábád valley was inhabited by Hindoos, who, upon some persecution, fled across the mountains, and were now the people of Káffristan (vide also Moorcroft, 1819-1825).