282. 



Some Persian Inscriptions found in Srinac/ar. 



mm 



converted into a graveyard for royalty. There is only one large tomb 

 (or rather the ruins of one) in this inclosure, and this is said to be the 

 tomb of Zainul'abidin, called Jaina-laba-dina in the Sanskrit history 

 of Kashmir which forms the sequel to the Eaja Tarangini. The tomb 

 somewhat resembles in its general outlines, though on a much smaller 

 scale, that of Anarkali at Lahor. It is now used as a Government 

 granary. It is surrounded by a large number of smaller tombs. Over 

 a postern gate there is the following inscription : 



Translation. 

 On visiting the sepulchre of his forefathers, Sultan Habib 

 Saw it and said : This royal place will soon become too narrow. 

 He erected another dais and door by its side. 

 So that no king might fail of the blessing of this Sepulchre. 

 At the time of erecting the new building I heard by inspiration 

 The year of its date: "The second sepulchre of Sultan Habib"— 981. 

 Note. This date also evinces the uncertainty of the dates in Kash- 

 mirian history; for according to Captain Newall (A Sketch of the 

 Mohammedan History of Cashmere, J. A. S. 1854, p. 426.) Habib 

 was killed long before this date, in A, D. 1557. The native historians, 

 at all events, put his deposition nearly twenty years before the date of 

 the inscription. Narayan Kol states that Habib Khan became king of 

 Kashmir in H. 960. In 961 he committed great mistakes in the ad- 

 ministration of justice, so that the pillars of the state became ashamed 

 of him. Hence All Khan put the crown on the head of Ghazi Khan, 

 his brother (both being uncles of Habib by his mother's side) ; this 

 was the beginning of the Chak dynaty. Hiigel gives Chak as an 

 abbreviation of Chaghatai. 'Azam, another historian of Kashmir, puts 

 the beginning of the Chak dynasty in the year H. 962 ; he calls 

 Habib the son of Ismail Shah, whilst Narayan Kol gives Shamsuddm 

 (Ismail's brother) as the name of his father. 



