50 Descriptive notice of the District of Jhilum. [Jan. 



which is found at the summit in small cubical bits, on the southern 

 peak. The Zemindars who search for it, let themselves down by a 

 rope over the face of the precipice and pick the mineral out of a hole 

 beneath in the side of the rock, in which perilous adventure some 

 unfortunates have lost their lives by falling down the cliff, a height of 

 5 or 600 feet. On the northern peak are the remains of an old fort, 

 which was destroyed by the Sikhs, near this is a hole 2 feet in dia- 

 meter, descending perpendicularly into the hill, concerning which a 

 curious legend exists. It is related as follows. — In Cashmere lived a 

 Saint named Makhdum Jhanian, who one day disappeared from the 

 hill on which he resided, and some time afterwards made his appear- 

 ance on the top of Kuringili, having traversed the intermediate coun- 

 try under ground, and made his way upwards through the heart of the 

 hill. On the Pir's arriving at the summit of the hill, which was then 

 inhabited by Kafirs, he proceeded on to the village now known by the 

 name of Makhdum Jhanian, and containing the tomb of the saint. 

 Here the people opposed him, upon which he prayed devoutly, and the 

 whole village, being subverted by a miracle, was buried in ruins. On 

 throwing stones down this hole they appear to fall a distance of 40 ft. 

 and more. Some years ago an adventurous Zemindar descended with 

 a lamp, but in a short time returned in a fright, declaring that he had 

 seen the traces of the Pir's feet, upon which he lost courage and got 

 himself drawn up again. Adjoining Kuringili is a high hill called 

 Drengun or Chel, which is the highest peak in the salt range save Mt. 

 Sikesar being considerably more lofty even than Kuringili. It is well 

 wooded, and in the thickets which abound in it, hawks are caught in 

 some numbers. Next to Drengun is a long hill called Diljabba which 

 terminates at the Ghorigulla pass. 



Four miles S. S. W. of Kuringili is the hill fort of Dilur, a place 

 of some strength commanding the route from Pind Dadan-khan to 

 Chakhowal. The ascent is rather precipitous, but the want of good 

 water makes it of less importance than it would otherwise be. It was 

 built by a certain Bairn Khan. 



The descent from this to the little village of Choya Saidan Shah is 

 very rough and troublesome. On the road is a large stone called 

 Saidan Shah's stone, at the most difficult point, where the path narrows 

 considerably, and for a horse, is almost dangerous. To this travellers 



