1869.] The District of Ludiana. 103 



There are a great many wonderful tales chiefly of metamorphosis 

 connected with Giiga, but I have not yet obtained any rational 

 or satisfactory account of the superstition itself. The inquiry is 

 interesting, as it may throw light on ethnological questions and on 

 the old snake-worship of India. The Chapar fair is held in the 

 north of Bhadon. 



Still more numerous than the shrines of Guga are those of the 

 famons Sakhi Sultan or Sakhi Sarwar, the Musalman saint whose 

 great place of pilgrimage is on the frontier beyond Dera Ghazi Khan. 

 In almost every village there is one of these shrines spoken of as 

 the u than." Attached to them is a class of priests or rather mission- 

 aries called " bharais." These make converts, and collect pilgrims 

 for the annual caravans to the great shrine. This shrine is spoken 

 of as Nigaha, and the qafilas are called " sangs." Thursday appears 

 to be the day sacred both to Giiga and to Sakhi Sultan. 



The great saint or divinity of the Churas, or Panjab-sweepers, 

 goes by the name of " Lai Beg." They erect a green flag in front 

 of their houses, place chiraghs by its side, and then pay their 

 devotions to the flag. They are very exclusive in their religious 

 dogmas, maintaining that there will be no salvation in a future 

 life for any but sweepers, though possibly a few Muhammadans may 

 be admitted to heaven by inadvertently taking the name " Lai," 

 when they repeat the halima "La Illah, &c. 



I may conclude this account of the Ludiana district with a few 

 words respecting the old Muhammadan capital Sarhind, which though 

 in Patiala territory, is very near the Ludiana border. Sarhind is 

 now a city of desolation ; not a mere mound of bricks like Sunet, 

 but a collection of standing ruins imposing from their size and 

 extent, but entirely desolate. The total area of the ruins is about 

 ten miles round. The two most prominent ruins are those of the 

 fort and of the governor's Palace or 'Am Khac. A road of white quartz 

 connects the two and crosses a substantial Moghul bridge. Near the 

 'Am Khac, is a large bank with a causeway leading to an island, 

 Sarhind was long the residence of numerous families of Sayyicls, and 

 almost every third building seems to have been a mausoleum. The 

 streets are crowded with these tombs mostly of one pattern, with 

 three domes and a double roof. Most of the buildings have under- 



