'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎22] (155/458)

213 LIEUTENANT H. a. RAVERTY
the landscape: it was built by a Mahabat Khan, Affghan, in the year
1756. It is of tolerable size but is very much delapidated, and bears no
trace of ever having been built in a “ splendid style of oriental archi
tecture.”
There is one well built Mosque in the Suburb of Sir Assea, called the
Musjid of Seik Iwuz, close to the cold well called after that devotee ;
and is far superior to anything of the kind in the city. It has been
built since Mr. Elphinstone’s visit, and is of small size, but constructed
in the most sub stantial manner, and is entirely white.
Respecting the derivation of the name “ Sir Assea,” or “ The Mill
Head,” it is said that the first mills in the district were erected here.
In the Province of Peshawur, and in many parts of the Punjaub, the
corn mills are turned by water. Another tradition is, that the proper
name is “ Sir Assa,” from Assa a crutch, and that the crutch of the
Caliph Ali is buried beneath the cupola of a shrine in this Suburb,
to which, on this account, both Sheah and Sunni came to pray. From
the cupola of this shrine also an iron chain hangs, which is customary
in several Musjids and Zearats—why, I cannot discover. In this
Zearat or shrine to which I refer, the chain at present is about 12 feet
from the ground, and it is said that formerly it could be reached with
the hand, but since the infidel Seiks made their appearance at Pesha
wur, it gradually shortened, and continues to do so still. The most
considerable public building is : the G-orkhutree, formerly the residence
of the Seik Governor. It was formerly a caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). , erected at the
orders of Nurjehan Begum Courteous or formal title for (usually Muslim) women of elite status, especially of Turko-Mongol lineage. , wife of Jehangeer. It is in the form of a
square, 700 feet in length, and the same in breadth. One side is
occupied by buildings, containing large and spacious rooms, which
during the time of the Seiks were the residence of the Governor of
the Province; and contained numerous offices for the use of the dif
ferent departments of the Government, built by General Avitabile
in the Hindu style. It is ornamented, both inside and out, with
grotesque figures, painted in the most brilliant colours, in a similar
manner to the embellishments of most Hindu Temples. It was at
first called the “Serai-i-do-dur,” or “The Jun of the two gates,
and after the death of its founder was allowed to go to ruin, m
which state it remained; when a Jogee or Hermit took up his
residence there close to the well. This Jogee in a short time
became so famous for sanctity that votaries flocked to him from all
parts. This at length increased to such an extent, that, being greatly