1851.] Essay on the Ancient Geography of India. 485 



priate symbol for a fisherman : being the compound hieroglyphic of 

 fish and man. The legends, relating to Rama-Chandra *s journey to 

 Hinglaj, are not to be found in the Pura'nas ; though otherwise well 

 known all over India, through the pilgrims, who visit Hinglaj from all 

 parts of the country. It is the case with many others, which in 

 general illustrate obscure passages in these books, and in many cases 

 are in some measure a supplement to them. The legends existed 

 before the Pura'nas, and this immense compilation does not contain 

 all that were current when they were written. Wishing, however, to 

 connect the journey of Rama chandra, with his history from the 

 Pura'nas, I consulted several well-informed pilgrims on the subject : 

 they were prepared and ready with an answer. 



Rama having killed Rdvana, who was a Brahman, paid a visit to 

 his spiritual guide Vasishta, who blamed him for it, as he would 

 certainly be haunted by a fury till his crime was expiated ; and for 

 that purpose recommended him to go and worship the mother of 

 mankind at Hinglaj. Ramchandra is called Sultan Serwer by Musul- 

 mans, and Hindus also in the west of India, or the lord paramount of 

 the world. He, with Bharat, is buried at a place called NigahA, about 

 forty cos to the west of Multan, in the mountains. His tomb is held 

 in great veneration, both by Hindus and Musulmans : and there is 

 held annually a meeting, and fair, to which no less than 100,000 men 

 are supposed to resort. Before I dismiss this article, I shall observe that 

 Maullavi Saleh, who lived many years in a public capacity at Tha't't'ha, 

 described to me the tombs near that city, nearly in the same words 

 with Capt. Hamilton. They are on the left of the road, as you go 

 from the Delta to Tha't't'M, among low hills, which form the eastern 

 point of a range coming from the S. W. toward Thdt't'hd ; and then 

 suddenly turning to the N. "W. The place is called Mecdli, and they 

 are now a little more than a mile from the southern extremity of the 

 town ; which is not now upon the same spot, where it stood in the 

 time of Capt. Hamilton. 



Formerly, says Maullavi Saleh, the fort was in the centre of the town, 

 and rather nearer to the southern extremity : but now it stands to the 

 north of the town and out of it. This was in consequence of a dread- 

 ful epidemic, which desolated the northern part of the town chiefly. 

 People died so fast, and in such numbers that there was nobody to 



