The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c5.s4.t3.9

c5.s4.t3.9

The town of Jalâlpur is situated on the west bank of the Jhelam at the point where the Kandar ravine joins the old bed of the river. The stream is now 2 miles distant, but the intervening ground, though partially covered with small trees, is still very sandy. The town is said to have been named in honour of Akbar, in whose time it was most probably a very flourishing place. But since the desertion of the river, and more especially since the foundation of Pind Dâdan, the place has been gradually decaying, until it now contains only 738 houses, with about 4000 inhabitants. From the appearance of the site, I estimated that the town might formerly have been about three or four times its present size. The houses are built on the last slope at the extreme east end of the salt range, which rises gradually to a height of 150 feet above the road. Its old Hindu name is said to have been Girjhâk, and as this name is found in Abul Fazl's ‘Ayin Akbari’* as Kerchak (read Girjak) of Sindh Sâgar, we have a proof that it was in use until the time of Akbar, when it was changed to Jalâlpur. But the people still apply the name of Girjhâk to the remains of walls on the top of the Mangal-De hill, which rises 1100 feet above Jalâlpur. According to tradition, Girjhâk extended to the west-north-west as far as the old temple of Bâghanwâla, a distance of 11 miles. But this is only the usual exaggeration of ignorance that is told of all ancient sites. There is no doubt that the city did once extend to the westward for some considerable distance, as the ground on that side is thickly strewn with broken pottery for about half a mile. Its antiquity is undoubted, as the coins which it yields reach back to the times of Alexander's successors. But I believe that it is much older, as its favourable position at the south-east end of the lower road would certainly have led to its occupation at a very early period. I think, therefore, that it may be identified with the Girivraja of the Râmâyana. Tradition has preserved the name of only one king, named Kâmkamârath, who is said to have been the sister's son of Moga, the founder of Mong. Mogal Beg* writes the name Ghir-Jehâk, and it is so written by some of the people of the place, as if it was derived from Giri-Zohâk, or "Zohâk's Hill." But the usual spelling, which accords with the pronunciation, is Jhâk.