The Pir is said to have built the small mosque on the hill, and adjoining to it a dark chamber or dungeon called Hejrah, which was regarded as sacred, owing to his having remained there for 40 days and nights, without tasting food or drink. East of the chamber, the saint and several of his successors were seen to have been buried. On a slab of stone, which the saint used to kneel during prayers, he was shown a small mark, surrounded by a red stain, which was attributed to an European gentleman, who had struck the stone with a spear, when immediately blood flowed from the part, and thus left the indelible stain. The mosque was then in tolerable order, but other buildings formerly occupied by the descendants, had become entirely ruinous, and the then possessor occupied a thatched house below. However, both Hindus and Mohammedans, when in distress, continued to make occasional offerings, and at the two festivals of Id and Bakrid not above 50 or 100 of the faithful assembled.

On this rock, Buchanan found a Gymnosophist from the west, who came towards him and, “in by no means a conciliatory tone”, complained thus “This is a vile country; at home I could get a rupee and piece of cloth from everyone I met, here no one gives anything. The rhetoric was not at all suited to find access to my pockets and I advised him by all means to return home, lest the police should lay hold of him; for he was an exceedingly indecent fellow. He did not go entirely naked, as many that I have seen, for he had a good rug on his back and shoulders to keep him warm; but his middle parts, before, were totally naked, and besmeared with ashes to render them more conspicuous.”

To be continued...