1834.] Description of the Mahal of Jychandra. 617 



II. — Notice of an Ancient Mahal or Palace near Jaunpdr, inivhichsome 

 Hindu Coins were lately dug up. By V. Tregear, Esq. 



The following particulars have been collected from different sources. 

 Much is from the History of Jaunpur by Moulvee Khyr-ud-din Mu- 

 hammed, an anonymous translation of which was lent me by a friend. 

 Part is from information afforded by the most intelligent natives I 

 could meet with, and part is from personal observation. 



Raja Jychand or Jychandra was ruler of the country from Buxar 

 to Kanouj, and reigned about the Samvat vear 1400. His favorite 

 residence was near the city of Jamunpur. As a clue to the true 

 period of his reign, it may be useful to mention, that Purmalik was 

 in his time raja of Kalinjer and Rae Pithoura (also called Prithvi Pat) 

 was king of Hastinapur ; also that the son of the former (named 

 Bramha) was married to Belwa', daughter of the latter. Jychand's 

 reign was undisturbed by the Mussalmans, but his son Lakhun was 

 not so fortunate. Not only was his country taken from him, but he 

 himself was sent to Delhi ; where, some say, he was forcibly convert- 

 ed to Muhammedanism. In commemoration of their victory, the Mus- 

 salmans changed the name of his residence to Zafferabad. 



Shah Feroz II. is by the Muhammedans considered as the founder 

 of Jaunpur. The following is Khyr-ud-din's account. In the vear 

 of the Hijri 772, Sultan Feroz was encamped near Zafferabad. 

 Riding out for amusement, he was particularly pleased with a certain 

 spot, on the banks of the Goomty, and determined to build a city 

 upon it. A dream, in which his grandfather, Shah Jounan, appeared 

 and requested the new city might be called after him, stimulated him 

 to immediate exertion. A fort was erected on the site of a Hindu 

 temple, which was destroyed for the double purpose of supplying ma- 

 terials, and making room for its successor. In this account I place 

 little or no belief. I am inclined to think the Hindu statement much 

 more correct. They say that Jamunpur was a very ancient and 

 large city, but had fallen into decay till the time of Jychandra, who 

 ornamented it, and the adjacent country, with many large and beauti- 

 ful temples. Mv reasons for placing more confidence in the latter 

 than the former relation are first, the fact of its having been the resi- 

 dence of Jychandra ; secondly, from the magnitude and number of the 

 temples, which formerly existed ; and thirdly, from the very circum- 

 stance of its having been chosen as the seat of the Soubeh. 



That Jychandra did reside here, is hardly to be doubted. Tradi- 

 tion, handed down from father to son, still points out the spot where 

 his mahal stood. The ruins of the fort built by him are still known 

 3 K 



