13. The history of the Begam is given in Chapter 76, _post_.
CHAPTER 71
The Station of Meerut--'Atalis' who Dance and Sing gratuitously for
the Benefit of the Poor.
On the 30th,[1] we went on twelve miles to Meerut, and encamped close
to the Suraj Kund, so called after Suraj-mal, the Jat chief of Dig,
whose tomb I have described at Govardhan.[2] He built here a very
large tank, at the recommendation of the spirit of a Hindoo saint,
Manohar Nath, whose remains had been burned here more than two
hundred years before, and whose spirit appeared to the Jat chief in a
dream, as he was encamped here with his army during one of his
_kingdom-taking_ expeditions. This is a noble work, with a fine sheet
of water, and flights of steps of 'pakka' masonry from the top to its
edge all round. The whole is kept in repair by our Government.[3]
About half a mile to the north-west of the tank stands the tomb of
Shah Pir, a Muhammadan saint, who is said to have descended from the
mountains with the Hindoo, and to have been his bosom friend up to
the day of his death. Both are said to have worked many wonderful
miracles among the people of the surrounding country, who used to see
them, according to popular belief, quietly taking their morning ride
together upon the backs of two enormous tigers who came every morning
at the appointed hour from the distant jungle.
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