The Lucknow Album/Najuf Ashruf or Shah Najaf

by Darogha Ubbas Alli

NAJUF ASHRUF OR SHAH NAJAF.

View No. 15.

Or the mausoleum of King Ghazee-ood-deen Hyder, built by himself, for the interment. of his own remains. It is surrounded by a high wall, and, like the Kuddum Rasool, afforded the mutineers an excellent position for defence. It was here that poor Sir William Peel, Commander of the Naval Brigade, earned an imperishable renown. This brave sailor, covered by the fire of two heavy guns, and supported by a small body of Infantry, literally scaled the high wall and jumped down into the midst of the enemy in the enclosure ; his men followed his example, and in spite of the immense superiority of the force they fell amongst, succeeded in dealing terrific slaughter, the ship's cutlass being the only weapon used. The place was soon after occupied by the British troops under command of Brigadier General Sir Adrian Hope.

The place derives the name " Najuf," from the hill on which the tomb of AH, the son-in-law of Mahomed, is built, of which tomb this is said to be an exact copy.

A fund was left by King Ghazee-ood deen Hyder, to keep the place in repair, to illuminate it yearly on the anniversary of his death, and to maintain an establishment. It is a place of great sanctity with the Mahomedans, but is not so grand as the great Imambara of Hosainabad which will be noticed in due course.

 

---

 

At a short distance, on the same road, is the—