DARGAH. HIND., PERS. A tomb or shrine, of which there are in India several of fame. Near Mangalore, at the village of Cuddry (two miles off), is Shaikh Furreed ka Dargah. It consists of a hole iu the centre of the side of a perpendicular laterite rock, which is fabulously said to lead all the way to Hyderabad, 450 miles. The opening is square, about six feet above the ground, ascended by a flight of stone steps rudely constructed, and just large enough to allow of a person to crawl in. The cavern is very dark, and no one knows the exact size of it. Adjoining is a chasm with an opening left for people to creep in by. Tradition states that about A.D. 1738, there was a pir named Shaikh Furreed, who made chill (i.e. neither speaking, eating, or drinking for forty days, but worshipping God and living retired from the world). He resided at Cuddry for twelve years, during which time he used to observe chillas, remaining for forty days together in the cavern, seeing and speaking to nobody, eating and drinking nothing ; after the forty days were over, he was wont to come out for four or five days, but partake of no other food but the leaves of a plant (since named after him), Furreed-bootee, which grows wild in the surrounding jungles, and has a sweetish taste ; he drank water, spoke during these days, said prayers in an adjoining stone building, and then retired again to this cavern to perform another forty days' china, and so on. At the end of twelve years he disappeared, and this being the road to Mecca, it is said that he set out for that town by the subterraneous route, and has never been beard of since. Mahomedans resort hither occasionally, and on Fridays cook victuals, and, having offered fatiha over them while burning incense, in his name distribute them among the fakirs resident there, as well as those who have accompanied them. If a dargali be situated in a place where no food can be dressed (from want of materials or otherwise), they take sweetmeats with them, which they substitute in its stead. This
dargah is in the charge of a fakir, who receives the offerings that are made by visitors, and which are ,placed at the entrance of the cave ; when he dies, the four principal makkan-walay (pirs), residing at the four principal makkans (or houses of pirs), spiritual guides (so called) at Mangalore, and six or ten of their murid (or discipleS), select a suc cessor ; on such occasions numerous fakirs are likewise present. In Tipu Sultan's time, the individual in charge of this tlftrgah received rupees corresponding to the number of masts of the vessels that entered the roads,—for every ship, three rupees ; patatuars, etc., two rupees ; etc., ono rupee. This was abolished when the place fell into the hands of the British.
A famed dargali is on the banks of the river at Mangalore, and consists of a large, long tomb, with minarets at each extremity. Lao Langar Shalt, a fakir, whose name it bears, buried here. Lampe aro lit here every night ; and it is chiefly visited by the Tamil, a Hindu race, but also other Hindus and Malioniedans. Most Hindus, however, frequent tiltaikh Furreed's dargalt. Dargalis are resorted to when people aro desirous of being freed from any distemperonisfortune, etc. If tho individual who is enshrined in the dargah has been wealthy, large dinners are provided, fatilla offered, and the food distributed to any who choose to partake of it ; there being sometimes ktinclini ka taifa (band of dancing girls) to entertain the guests. Among the great, this takes place on every night of the year (and is never observed in the day-time); but among tho poorer classes of people, every Monday and Thursday, or once a week or mouth.—Herklels.