1901.] Maulavl ‘Abdul Wall— Jdmi ‘ Masjid at Sailhipd. 
15 
On the antiquity and traditions of the Jdmi ‘ Masjid and the Rauza of 
Hazrat Maulana. Muhammad ‘Arab, at Sailkupa , Sub-Division 
Jhenidah, District Jessore. — By MaulavI ‘Abdul WalT, Sub-Registrar 
of Sailkupd . 
[ Read March, 1899. ] 
On my arrival at Sailkfipa 1 in 1891, it struck me that the Mauza‘ 
was remarkable in many respects : it contained an old mosque, said <o 
be in existence from long centuries; a maqbira (tomb) of a Muham-' 
madan saint, commonly called “ Maulana Sahib,” and of a Wazir. 
Vague traditions regarding the Masjid, and the life of the saint, were 
current, but none—Hindus and Musalmans—could tell anything for 
certain about them. Even the khadims were miserably ill-informed. 
After a long time, while searching for old Farmans, Sanads, Parwanas, 
Fatwas, Kablnnamas, and other documents, in the possession of certain 
families, I was able to form—with the help of certain old residents of 
the village—a tolerably correct idea about the antiquity and traditions of 
Mauza‘ Sailkupa, and its ancient mosque. It wns, however, with con¬ 
siderable difficulty and questionings that I came to know of the 
existence of these old deeds, and with still more entreaties, I had access 
to them. Owing to the want of education and culture, the Muham¬ 
madans of the day do not trouble themselves about the relics of old 
things left by their ancestors. They only care for such documents that 
may be required by the Law Courts—from the period of resumption of 
stipendiary lands and grants. 
The Mauza‘ Sailkupa, within Jhenidah Sub-Division, is prettily 
situated on the left bank of the river Kumar, ten miles north of 
Jhenidah. It is one of the principal trading places of Jessore. A 
Thana was established here in 1863, 2 and a Sub-Registry Office in 1875, 
1 The Mauza* is spelt in various ways : Salkopa, Sailkupa, Saulkupa, or as in 
Persian deeds SolkSpa. The etymology is very uncertain. Sail, Saul, or Sal = a 
kind of fish, K5pa or Kupa = vvell, i.e., well, or hollow place for Sail fish. The popu¬ 
lation of the village according to the census of 1891 was 4128. 
2 The part north of the River Kumar belonged to Pabna District before 1863. 
