AN ACCOUNT OF THE SODUTS, THE MEN OF LEARNING, THE PRIESTS, THE JUDGES, AND THE POETS, IN THE TIME OF MEERZA SHAH HOOSAIN.

Amongst these the first is Meerza Mahomed (known by the name of Shaikh Meeruk), the son of Meer Aboo Suneed Pooranee. His genealogy extends back to Arab Shahee Sodut. The mother of Meer Aboo Suneed was the daughter of Shaikh Julal-ood-deen. Shaikh Meeruk gained praise above all the Soduts by his charity, his devoutness, abstinence, and wisdom. He remained a long time in Sind at the head of the priests of Islam. All who came and went, all travellers, found bread at his house; all men of learning, and studying, gained much wisdom from his exertions; these took the ball from those who studied elsewhere. He wrote a very good hand, particularly the Nustungleek. In the month of Mohurrum 962 (A. D. 1554), he died.

Shaikh Meer Mahomed and Shaikh Abdool Wuhab were the two sons of Meer Bayuzeed the son of Meer Aboo Suneed. They were cousins to Shaikh Meeruk, after whose death they were superior to all. The habits and character of the latter were very good: he was of a happy temper, giving life to large assemblies. He understood poetry well; he restrained himself much, walking in the ways of God; with all his power he showed the proper path to men of consequence, exerting himself much to do away with oppression, and to put a stop to all the introduction of novelties in the exercise of religion. These two brothers died in the year 970 (A. D. 1562). The Jamin Futawa Pooranee, a work on law well known at Tatta and Bukkur, was written by Shaikh Abdool Wuhab.

Shaikh Kootb-ood-deen Mahomed, the son of Shah Mahomed, the son of Shah Tuyub, was the chief of the Soduts of Khorasan. He came to Sind after the quarrels of the Toorkomans, living at Bukkur. Every Friday he spoke in public, giving advice to the people. He was a man of great abstinence and piety. He died in the latter end of the year 977 (A. D. 1569).