150 CIVIL HISTORY AND 



exterior coating of brick. The present town is of cc 

 paratively modern origin, and owed its foundation to 

 the attractive virtues of the tomb of Ismael Malec, 

 its patron saint, who according to tradition was 

 once king of that country. A mosque bearing his 

 name was reared on the spot where his remains were 

 buried ; but nobody has been permitted to approach 

 his tomb since on one occasion he thought proper to 

 work a miracle which gave great dissatisfaction to 

 the authorities of the place. This marvellous event 

 was related to Niebuhr : Two beggars had asked 

 charity from the dowlah, of whom one only re- 

 ceived alms ; the other repaired to the sepulchre of Is- 

 mael to implore his interposition. The holy man, who 

 when alive had been liberal of his bounty, gave the 

 mendicant a letter containing an order on the dow- 

 lah for the payment of 100 crowns. Upon examina- 

 tion the document was found to be in the handwriting 

 of the deceased, and sealed with his seal. With such 

 evidence before his eyes the governor durst not re- 

 fuse, and paid the beggar the demand in full ; but, 

 to avoid such troublesome drafts in future, the tomb 

 was enclosed with a lofty wall. 



In the city and neighbourhood stood many de- 

 serted and ruinous mosques, some of which appear- 

 ed to be erected by the Turkish pashas. The sub- 

 sequent governors of the place had built several 

 noble palaces, which were the greatest ornaments 

 in it ; but many of the houses had been destroyed, 

 and the surrounding country almost depopulated, 

 during the civil wars occasioned by the revolt of 

 the governor, Dowlah Achmed, brother to the Imam 

 El Mansor Hossein. On being recalled, this offi- 

 cer refused to obey ; and with a force of 2000 men 



