1834.] Mahal of Jychandra at Jaunpur. 619 



It may be said, that Jamunpur, by which almost all the Hindus call 

 it, and which every pandit affirms to be its real name, is merely a corrup- 

 tion of Jaunpur. I beg to say, that the latter is so of the former. The 

 Mussalmans endeavoured to give the new buildings names as similar as 

 possible to the old ones. Thus the mosque built on the site of the 

 Utala d'&wal, is called the Utala Masjid, from a custom of the former 

 princes, who used to place in its court their travelling equipage and 

 baggage. The Biji Mandal, built by Raja Bijichand, was called 

 the Bidi Manzil, when converted to a Mussalman residence. The 

 change, therefore, from Jamunpur to Jaunpur was not only easy 

 and probable, but perfectly natural and consonant with the custom of 

 its new possessoi-s ; more particularly as the date of its pretended 

 foundation is shewn by that name. According to the Abjad, the 

 powers of the letters forming Shahar Jaunpur, are 770. 



Little doubt will, I hope, remain as to the city of Jamunpur hav- 

 ing been very extensive previous to the Mussalman conquest. The 

 fact of the populace having resisted successfully the Emperor Feroz 

 and his troops is alone of great weight. 



This allowed, it is not impi-obable that the prince of so large a 

 country should have chosen the spot for his residence. No other Hin- 

 du names are preserved to whom could be attributed the building of 

 the mahal, &c. The particulars gathered from my Hindu informants 

 are, I think, more entitled to credit from their having been related to 

 me, diverted of the fabulous and wondei'ful, with which ignorance 

 and superstition delight to envelope the occurrences of past ages. 



I have been unable to discover the former name of Zafferabad. One 

 man informed me, he had once heard it, but could only recollect it 

 sounded like Sompur or Samatpur. 



The present town is situated along the western bank of the river 

 Goomty, nearly four miles from Jaunpur. Jychandra's mahal is a 

 mile and half to the eastward, on the concave bank, on an angle in the 

 river. The bank is very steep and high, but the ruins reach in some 

 slopes to the water's edge. There were very probably ghats from the 

 top. The whole building extended over about six bigas, which is 

 now cultivated. The old fort is to the south of Zafferabad, and con- 

 tains 1 1 bigas of land, but may stand on twice that quantity. It is 

 now merely a mound of earth, about 50 feet in height, with the remains 

 of the bastions still visible. All the stones and bricks have been re- 

 moved to form the various buildings, by which it is bounded on two 

 sides, as well as to supply the fort, bridge, and masjids. 



The gold coins in my possession were found in the ruins by the cul- 

 tivator of the " mahal." He brought them to the bazar for sale, but 



