342 Account of a visit to tlie Shrine of SahM Sarwar. [No. 4, 



" Believe not Fate at thy command, 



Will grant a meed she never gave ; 

 As soon the airy tower shall stand, 



That's built upon a passing wave." Muhammud Al-Tahmany. 



" A disturbance now broke out in the vicinity of Miiltan ; and it 

 was currently reported that the Kafirs or Infidels inhabiting the 

 mountains near the Indus — distant some sixty miles to the west — 

 had assembled in great numbers, and had killed and plundered the 

 property of the Faithful residing in that part of the country. This 

 was soon after corroborated by a number of the injuried parties ap- 

 pearing at Multan to make known their wrongs to the powerful 

 Muhammadan chiefs there ; and demand their aid, and that of their 

 brethren of the Faith in general, to enable them to take revenge on 

 the Infidels. Sultan Sakhi Sarwar was one of the foremost to render 

 the succour they sought ; and he accordingly set out to oppose the 

 Infidels, taking along with him his brother — Khan Dhoda, and 

 Mi'ah Band — his son by his third wife, Bibi Ba'ie — who also accom- 

 panied her husband and son. Ndr, Omar, Issak, and All — his chief 

 and most favoured disciples, together with several horsemen, also 

 went with him. 



" When they had reached the hills where the Zia-rat or Shrine 

 now stands, they attacked the Infidels and put them to the rout ; 

 and from thenceforth the Saint took up his residence, much against 

 the advice of his followers and friends, at the village where his ashes 

 now repose; After a short period however, the Kafirs again assem- 

 bled in great force and attacked the holy man and his followers, who 

 opposed them to their utmost, until the four disciples were slain, 

 and obtained the crown of martyrdom. The head of the Saint had 

 been severed from his body by the sword of an Infidel, (may dogs 

 defile the graves of his forefathers and descendants) but the headless 

 trunk, still continued to oppose them for a period of four days. At 

 length, near the skirt of the hills, on a rising ground where the 

 tomb now stands, Sultan Sakhi Sarwar sank down under an Arak 

 tree and breathed his last." 



" Tyrant of man ! imperious Fate ! 



I bow before thy dread decree, 

 Nor hope in this uncertain state 



To find a seat secure from thee." Ali bin Muhammad. 



