4 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
tradition over the precise truths of history. No 
better evidence of this predilection could be given 
than their eagerness to relate to every enquiring 
visitor their favourite 
LEGEND OF FAKHIR-UD-DEEN, 
which very ingeniously, to say the least of it, 
accounts for that strange admixture of the Mohum- 
medan and Hindoo orders of architecture, from which 
the city derives so peculiar a character. I shall tell 
the tale, as nearly as possible, in the words of the 
narrators. 
In the early part of the thirteenth century, these 
provinces, which were then in the highest state of 
agricultural and commercial prosperity, were invaded 
by the enterprising and insatiable Moguls. The 
Hindoo sovereign, Hari Raial, who held his court at 
Yiziernuggur, was attacked and driven from his 
capital; and, retreating with a few followers for 
several days, while the enemy were engaged in 
pillaging his treasures, he escaped unnoticed to a 
remote mountain. Finding the place almost im- 
pregnable by nature, he speedily built and fortified a 
city, which was considered capable of setting at 
defiance all the military skill and power of the 
invaders. In this spot he remained many years 
unmolested ; and as he was a warm patron of the 
arts, and had some ambition to be well spoken of by 
