216 A Canal Act of the Emperor Akbar, [No. 171. 



" His throne is the throne of Fariddn and Kai. 



" He is like unto Khizr, and from the waters of his generosity every 

 thing has life. 



" He is such a king, that from the canal of his liberality, the garden of 

 the world is green all the year round. 



" A canal by his orders was carried to Hissar ; 



" For the sake of the Prince Salim of blessed steps. 



" A canal like milk, and that milk full of fish ; 



" Its waters like honey, and pleasanter than wine. 



" The king in his great kindness gave Muhamad Salim the title of 

 Shekho, because his Pir (spiritual patron) was a Shaikh(i). 



" He consequently called this canal Shaikh Nai. 



" May the Badshah and Prince live for ever. 



" The date of excavating this canal is to be found in the following 

 words : — 



J^abl U) 



" Tarkhan obtained the title of Mir-ab for his labours, because he car- 

 ried the waters of the canal in every direction. 



" As long as the new moon, like a boat, sails in the waters of the blue 

 heavens, so long may the waters of this king's generosity irrigate the 

 garden of the world. 



" Whereas I have ordered that the waters be collected in this canal, 

 and that it be made so wide and deep to Hissar, that boats may ply 

 upon it in every part ; it is my will that the superintendent build bridges 

 and bunds wherever necessary(&), that at the season of cultivation a 

 sufficient supply of water be given to all who aided in excavating the 

 canal, and they obtain water all the year round. 



(i) It is said that Akbar having had no child who survived infancy, made a pil- 

 grimage to offer his prayers for posterity at the shrine of Muginuddin Chishtfat, Aj- 

 mir. He was there directed to seek the intercession of the Shaikh Salim Chishtfa 

 Sfkri ; and shortly afterwards the favourite Sultana was delivered of a son, who in 

 honour of the saint was called Shekho Salim. A village on the canal near Hissar 

 bears the name of Salima Shekhopoor. 



^ ±f & z ±f $ * u ^-' ' 



(k) The only old bridges now existing between the canal head and Hansi are, that 

 called the Gharaunda bridge, near Karnal, and one at Safidan ; both massive 

 structures with pointed arches. 



