17 
1901.] Maulavi ‘Abdul Wall —Jdimi 1 Masjid at Sailkupa, 
formerly called town, and measures inside 31£ feet by 21 feet. The 
wall is a massive one, 5^ feet thick. The building may be divided into 
two blocks lengthwise, eastern, and western, each of which contains 
three cupolas or domes of conical shape 21 feet high from the floor, 
which go up to the utmost height of the roof, supported by arches, 12 
feet high on two stone pillars beneath, not more than 1J feet square and 
6 feet high. Where the arch springs, which support the cupola above, 
there is a sort of capital. These two stone pillars are posted in the 
middle of the building at an equal distance from the walls, and from 
each other, in such a position that between them they support the 
whole edifice; the two cupolas or domes remain on both aisles of them, 
east and west; the remaining two domes are in the middle of these two 
pillars, also east and west,—thus making up six domes or cupolas. On 
the western wall, a mimbar or pulpit, and several curved mihrabs or 
arches, with spaces to keep ciragh , &c., are still to be seen ; but they are 
in a bad state of preservation. Inside, the mosque is rectangular, 
outside, the walls on the east and west are projected outwards, and look 
like a huge Rahil fish. The cornices on all sides are very beautiful and 
well planned. Over the top of the entrance or facade the space appears 
to be raised, the bricks of which are carved and ornamented, but broken 
and fading away. There are oblong spaces designed to receive 
epigraphs which have never been inscribed. There are six small door¬ 
ways, besides the main entrance—two on the north, two on the south, 
and two on the east, on either sides of the main entrance. The height 
on the outside from the ground is 18 feet, less by 3 feet, than the 
cupolas. 
The materials with which the Masjid is built are burnt bricks and 
cliunam of shells or kauri . It appears to me a work of considerable 
skill. There is a piece of stone lying on the ground. This stone, and 
the two pillars, mentioned, are of the same colour and quality. 
As to the origin of the Masjid (called in Imperial Farmans Masjid - 
i-J&mi 1 or Cathedral mosque), it is stated that King Nasir Shah, son of 
Husain Shah, of Bengal, while travelling from Gaur on his way to 
Dacca (?) came to Mauza‘ Sailkupa. With Nasir Shah were Hazrat 
Maulana Muhammad ‘Arab, a renowned Darvish, and Murskid 
(spiritual guide) of the King; Hakim Khan, a Path an; Saiyid Shah 
‘Abdu-l-Qadir-i-Baghdadi; and a Faqir. The Maulana on seeing the 
village was very much delighted and said “ I like this place, I will 
inhabit here.” The above-mentioned three persons who were the 
disciples of the Maulana wished also to remain with their Murshid at 
Sailkupa. Nasir Shah consented to this, and left his Wazir Shah ‘All 
in the service of his pir. The King granted a few Bigahs of Idkhiraj 
J. i. 3 
