SHEIKH FARID, Mangalore - Kadri (Cave of)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A square opening, about six feet above the ground, ascended by a flight of stone steps (NEWBOLD, T J 1846e Summary: 233) gives access to sacred troglodyte cave in laterite, which is not only reputed to have been used as a troglodyte retreat and exit cave (note 1) by one Shaik Fureed or Sheikh Furreed (Sheikh Farid) but also is renowned for a fabulous tunnel, which is said to lead from Kadri / Kadre (note 2), a suburb north-east of Mangalore (note 3), to an unspecified point of return somewhere at Hyderabad (note 4) on the Deccan, only a little more than 600 km away. The modified natural cave in a centre of a perpendicular rock composed of laterite (NEWBOLD, T J 1845d: 641) is a Muslim temple cave and possibly identical with the Hindu Panch –>Pandava cave (Mangalore: Kadri) in the Kadali kshetra. ETYMOLOGY: The title -sheikh- (literally: elder) designates a male person converted to Islam and the name of the Mahomedan recluse (NEWBOLD, TC 1846e Summary: 233) has been referred to as Shai Fureed NEWBOLD, T J (1845d: 641) Sheikh Furreed NEWBOLD, T J (1846e Summary: 233) after Dr. Herklot's Qanoon-i-Islam. Glossary, pp. LXIX and LXX (NEWBOLD, TC 1846e Summary: 233 footnote). SETTING 1909 - geology: Mangalore taluk … The laterite plateaux in this taluk are very extensive, notably that round Mudbidri, and many of the hills round Mangalore have been stripped bare to supply the local market for firewood; but its deep valleys and outstanding bluffs and crags, with the ever-present towering background of the Ghats, render its scenery unsurpassed (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 17: 176). SITUATION 1846: At Cuddry [Kadri], about two miles [some 3 km or so] from Mangalore (NEWBOLD, T J 1845d: 641; NEWBOLD, T J 1846e Summary: 233). SETTING 1845 - geology: Mangalore … The higher parts of the peninsula present a thick bed of laterite, intersected by small flat-bottomed vallies opening out towards the sea, and flanked by steep hills of laterite. The summits of these hills are usualy flat, like those of trap or sandstone, with steeply sloping sides and occasionally precipitous cliffs. In structure the laterite is porous, and sometimes cavernous (NEWBOLD, T J 1845d: 641). CAVE DESCRIPTION: The cave shrine of Sheikh Furreed at Cuddry … is a hole in the centre of the side of a perpendicular rock composed of laterite, which is 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, just large enough to allow a person to crawl in. The cavern is very dark, and no one knows the exact size of it. Adjoining is a chasm in the rock, and of inconsiderable size, which at its entrance has been built up with stone, and an opening left for people to creep in by, as in the other; but this is found open within (or exposed to the air) after it is once entered. More than a century ago, a Mahomedan recluse, named Sheikh Furreed, took up his abode in the cave, and at the expiration of twelve years isappeared, and has never been heard of since. The popular tradition is, that he tried to get to Mecca by this subterraneous route (NEWBOLD, T J 1846e Summary: 232-233). CAVE POTENTIAL: The extent, which cannot be very great, has not yet been ascertained (NEWBOLD, T J 1845d: 641). CULTURAL HISTORY - fabulous tunnel: Dr. Herklots, in his Account of Mahommedan Customs [note 4], describes the sacred shrines of Shaik Fureed at Cuddry [Kadri], about two miles from Mangalore as being situated in a cave in a centre of a perpendicular rock composed of laterite which is said to lead all the way to Hyderabad, 450 miles! [note 5] away (NEWBOLD, T J 1845d: 641; NEWBOLD, T J 1846e Summary: 233).y flat, like those of trap or sandstone, with steeply sloping sides and occasionally precipitous cliffs. In structure the laterite is porous, and sometimes cavernous (NEWBOLD, T J 1845d: 641). CAVE DESCRIPTION: The cave shrine of Sheikh Furreed at Cuddry … is a hole in the centre of the side of a perpendicular rock composed of laterite, which is 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, just large enough to allow a person to crawl in. The cavern is very dark, and no one knows the exact size of it. Adjoining is a chasm in the rock, and of inconsiderable size, which at its entrance has been built up with stone, and an opening left for people to creep in by, as in the other; but this is found open within (or exposed to the air) after it is once entered. More than a century ago, a Mahomedan recluse, named Sheikh Furreed, took up his abode in the cave, and at the expiration of twelve years isappeared, and has never been heard of since. The popular tradition is, that he tried to get to Mecca by this subterraneous route (NEWBOLD, T J 1846e Summary: 232-233). CAVE POTENTIAL: The extent, which cannot be very great, has not yet been ascertained (NEWBOLD, T J 1845d: 641). CULTURAL HISTORY - fabulous tunnel: Dr. Herklots, in his Account of Mahommedan Customs [note 4], describes the sacred shrines of Shaik Fureed at Cuddry [Kadri], about two miles from Mangalore as being situated in a cave in a centre of a perpendicular rock composed of laterite which is said to lead all the way to Hyderabad, 450 miles! [note 5] away (NEWBOLD, T J 1845d: 641; NEWBOLD, T J 1846e Summary: 233).