🧚 Makhdum Niamat Ullah and Makhdum Nuh. · page 2

About a quarter of a mile from the tomb of Shah Makai is another small but holy building known as Shah Kadam.115 Within it are preserved the stones on which Haidar Ali’s white mule Dhul Dhul did its miracle-working dance.116 Its hoof marks may still be seen stamped deep in the stone.117 By its side a slab bears the marks of Haidar Ali’s hands, knees, feet and forehead, which he made when he prostrated himself in prayer before Allah.118 And a third stone bears the marks of the saint’s fingers and thumb when he made the bhundo at Raja Neran.119 So violent was the Imam’s curse that it has lived on, monumentum aere perennius.120 The well into which Nigar was thrown is one of the three inside Nerankot, but none could tell me with certainty which it was.121 Perhaps the most interesting relic of that golden time is a great “djar” tree that grows near Shah Makai’s tomb.122 The guardian of the shrine assured me that it had grown from a bit of stick, which the saint had one day used as a toothbrush and then carelessly thrown aside.123

BRAHMANABAD.—I.124

The ruined town of Brahmanabad, probably the most interesting spot in Sind, lies about eleven miles from Shahdadpur.125 A road sufficiently good for a Ford Car leads thither and a run there on a cold weather morning is a bracing and exhilarating experience.126 When Brahmanabad is reached one sees, as far as the eye can range, an endless waste of brick ruins, the site of a once mighty city.127 It flourished in the time of Alexander.128 It was still great in the eighth century when Mahomed Kasim invaded Sind.129 What caused its downfall?130 The whole question was admirably discussed in 1854 by Mr. Bellasis of the Indian Civil Service.131 His conclusion was that the city had been overwhelmed by an earthquake, which at the same time changed the bed of the Indus, formerly close by the city walls and the source of its greatness.132 The destruction of Brahmanabad, wrote Mr. Bellasis, was so complete that it could not have been caused by a fire or by a hostile force.133 There were, moreover, no signs of fire.134 There were quantities of jewellery among the ruins, which neither fugitive inhabitants nor an enemy would have left.135 At the same time there were many skeletons visible in corners and doorways—the skeletons of men and women overwhelmed, no doubt, as they sought to escape.136 The skeletons have long ago gone to manure the neighbouring fields, just as the bricks of the houses in which they once lived are to be found in the villages round about.137 Still we may safely accept the evidence of Mr. Bellasis as well as the accuracy of his conclusions.138 But if Brahmanabad was overwhelmed by an earthquake, what were the circumstances attending it?139 We have no historical record.140 But there exist two legends—a Musulman and a Hindu legend.141 They differ widely from each other, only agreeing in this that the end of Brahmanabad came because of God’s wrath at the wickedness of its ruler, Dalu Rai.142 I shall relate the Musulman legend first.143 It is to be found in the Tufat-ul-Kiram and runs somewhat as follows:144

Once upon a time there ruled over the city of Brahmanabad a Hindu king, called Dalu Rai (May Allah confound him!) whose wickedness is still well remembered in the land of Sind.145 He had, however, a brother called Chota Amrani, who had given up kufar or ingratitude and had won immortal happiness by embracing Islam.146 He had left Brahmanabad and had committed to memory the whole Koran and also all the customs of the True Believers.147 On his return to the city his relatives wanted him to marry; but King Dalu Rai said with a cruel sneer “He is a renegade.148 Let him go on a pilgrimage to Mecca and there wed the daughter of some famous Arab; but he shall not marry the daughter of any Hindu subject of mine!”149

Chota Amrani feared to stay longer in Brahmanabad, so he set out on a pilgrimage to Mecca.150 After many hardships and dangers he reached the Holy City.151 As he walked through the streets, he passed a shop, wherein a woman, instead of attending to her customers was reading aloud the Koran.152 Chota Amrani stopped to listen.153 The woman saw him and asked him why he did not pass on.154 “I have stopped,” said Chota Amrani, “to listen to the words of Holy Writ.155 I have learnt the Koran by heart; but if you will teach me its various readings, I shall become your slave.”156 “Nay,” said the woman, “I am not fit to teach you.157 I have a teacher of my own.158 She is a maiden and you cannot enter her home in a man’s dress.159 But if you change your clothes and dress like a girl, I shall take you to her.”160 Chota Amrani who was still quite young and without any beard on his chin, agreed.161 He dressed up as a girl and was taken to the house of the learned maiden by the woman in the shop.162 The maiden’s name was Fatima and she readily undertook the instruction of the foreign girl, who had come from so far off to see Mecca.163 One day the shopwoman asked Fatima some questions concerning the marriage of her daughter.164 Fatima, who was skilled in astrology as well as in matters religious, answered the questions with ease.165 Chota Amrani then to test the maiden said “As you can tell the future of others, you can surely tell your own future.”166 Fatima replied “My fate is to be married to a man from Sind.”167 “But when?” asked the astonished visitor.168 “In no long time,” replied Fatima.169 “But where is the man?” asked Chota Amrani.170 Fatima pretended to consult her astrological books and said with a smile “You are the man.”171 Then she added “Begone and come no longer in the garb of a girl.172 Put on a man’s dress and ask formally for my hand, for I am destined to be yours.”173

Chota Amrani, abashed at the penetration of his disguise, went away and returned dressed as a man.174 He formally asked for the hand of Fatima.175 His request was granted and she became his wife.176

After two or three months had passed, Chota Amrani told Fatima that he must take her back with him to Sind.177 Fatima made no objection and they set sail for the land of the Indus river.178 When they reached Brahmanabad, they found that Dalu Rai had recently issued a law that every young married woman should be brought to his couch for at least one night.179 He therefore demanded that Chota Amrani should send Fatima to his palace.180 Chota Amrani refused and Dalu Rai did nothing for the moment.181 But one day when Chota Amrani was absent from the city, Dalu Rai forced his way into his brother’s house and tried to seduce Fatima.182 The noble lady virtuously resisted all his efforts to lead her astray and fortunately before he could use violence to her, Chota Amrani returned.183 He drove the wicked king from his house and instantly left Brahmanabad with Fatima.184 As he left, a voice from heaven was heard to say “This city will soon be swallowed because of its king’s wickedness.185 Let those who are warned flee from the accursed spot or keep watch against the day of atonement.”186 A few obeyed and shook from their feet the dust of the doomed city, but most of the people paid no heed.187 The first night the city was spared, because an old woman working at a wheel kept awake all night, as the voice had commanded.188 The second night an oil presser kept watch unceasingly.189 But the third night the inhabitants forgot the divine warning.190 Suddenly, while all slept the entire city was swallowed up.191 Of all its splendid buildings only one minaret remained, as an example and a warning to other kings and peoples.192

BRAHMANABAD.—II.193

Now let us turn to the Hindu legend which I came across in a Sind magazine.194 It ran as follows:—195

Once upon a time Brahmanabad, now a heap of ruins, was the glory of all Sind.196 It stood on an oasis in the desert; and to guard its people from sudden raids by desert tribes, one of its kings had built round it a great wall.197 Beneath the wall flowed the river Indus, on whose waters the merchant ships of Brahmanabad carried the city’s commerce up and down Sind.198 Inside the walls were rich houses, countless gardens, and a mighty tower, that served as a landmark for miles around.199 About a mile and a half from Brahmanabad was the royal suburb of Dalor in which stood the king’s palace and the quarters of his guards.200 Some five miles from Brahmanabad stood the suburb of Depur.201 Therein lived the ministers with their public offices and their record-rooms and storehouses.202 Along the banks of the river was a collection of huts, wherein lived a wild gipsy tribe known as Madu.203 They lived by selling milk and ghi to the rich burghers of Brahmanabad.204

The reigning King Amrai was beloved by his people and when his queen died, he would not give her place to another.205 He devoted his life to the upbringing of their only son, prince Dalu Rai.206 Unhappily so evil was the lad’s nature, that the more care the king spent on him the worse he grew.207 He gathered round him a band of bad companions and all day and every day the royal palace resounded with the cries of the prince’s victims.208 At last the king out of all patience, shut up his son in the tall tower which looked over the country round Brahmanabad.209 But the fickle mob at once turned round.210 “What a cruel father!” they cried.211 “Fancy treating thus the heir to the throne!”212 King Amrai consulted his ministers and they advised him to free his son, but at the same time to put in charge of him some wise and virtuous old man, who by example and precept would show him the error of his ways.213 King Amrai thought their advice good and freeing the prince, appointed a wise old man to look after him and to teach him.214 Although the king said nothing to Dalu Rai, the latter guessed, when an aged pandit called on him, that he was in some way to be over him.215 He instantly resolved to treat the old man in such a way that neither he nor any other old man in the kingdom would accept the post again.216 He pretended to listen with the greatest attention to all the old man’s words and seemed so eager to do what was right, that the sage thought the prince the most charming of pupils.217 After some hours of talk, the prince made his master dine with him.218 During the meal the old man talked as one inspired; and as he talked, the prince’s servants filled his glass over and over again with drugged wine.219 Before the meal was over the poor old pandit was fast asleep.220 The prince had him put to bed and as he lay asleep, the prince’s barber shaved off the sage’s moustaches and stuck in their place crow’s feathers.221 Next morning when the old man awoke, he passed his hand over his face and found the horrible thing that had been done to him.222 He rose, fled from the prince’s house and threw himself at King Amrai’s feet and told him of the prince’s cruel trick.223 The king soothed the old man as best he could; but he was so affected, that he never shewed himself in the Darbar Hall again.224