1843.] of the Panjab and Affghanistan. 605 



days, and hold their meetings in the house of Maddat Shah, who has 

 the most unbounded influence over his disciples, the Maneekhels and 

 Abdul Azeezkhels. 



In these districts, apples, grapes, mulberries, walnuts, pears, pome- 

 granates ; in short all the Cabool fruits are produced in plenty. 



In the hot weather, the situation is peculiarly pleasant. To the east 

 is Garee Rustam Khan, to the west Mastee and Shekhan, Mullakhel 

 and Baramadkhel, to the north hills, and beyond them, the Afreedees 

 and the road to Jelalabad, and to the south the Maneekhels. They 

 have never paid revenue since the time of the Chaghatye kings. 



During my stay with Maddat Shah, I saw none of the assumptions 



Maddat Shah, that the Sunnees give him credit for ; but his disciples, 

 certainly, are in some instances, beyond bounds in the homage they 

 pay him. In their prayers, for instance, they ask forgiveness in his 

 name and those of his children and forefathers. 



During my stay, my Persian Meerza who was a Sayad, made a 

 mistake, which was nearly proving of serious con- 

 sequence. He one day seated himself on the vacant 

 cot of one of Maddat Shah's sons. I overheard the bye-standers mut- 

 tering a threat, that if he were not a guest, they would kill him for the 

 insult. I explained, in extenuation, that my companion was a Sayad, as 

 well as my host. " He may be," was the reply, " but for all that, he 

 shan't presume to sit on that cot." 



The Bangashees perform the pilgrimage to Meshed. I have often 

 Veneration. m et them in Persia, and whenever the name of Maddat 

 Shah is mentioned, if they are seated, they immediately rise, and 

 press the forefinger of their right hand, half closed, first to their lips 

 and then to their foreheads. 



Maneekhel is pleasantly situated in a valley. In the summer, this 

 Maneekhel. pl ace enjoys the best climate in all Teera. The cultiva- 

 tion is carried on by spring and river water. The winter here is very 

 severe; but the poor people find plenty of firewood near at hand. 

 There are one or two mills on every canal. There are six hundred 

 houses of stone and mud ; and the fighting men amount to 800. 

 They are enemies of the Sunnees of Mastee and Shekhan. The 

 Sheahs of the neighbourhood are said to be descended from a con- 

 Shamal and Karah. verted Hindoo, named Shamal, and the Sunnees of 



