Observations on the Mussulmauns of India | Page 6

command prohibiting females being seen in public.--The Palankeen.--Bearers.--Their general utility and contentedness of disposition.--Habits peculiar to Mussulmaun Ladies.--Domestic arrangements of a Zeenahnah.--Dinner and its accompanying observances.--The Lota and Lugguns.--The Hookha.--Further investigation of the customs adopted in Zeenahnahs...Page 163
LETTER XIII
Plurality of wives.--Mahumud's motive for permitting this privilege.--State of society at the commencement of the Prophet's mission.--His injunctions respecting marriage.--Parents invariably determine on the selection of a husband.--First marriages attended by a public ceremony.--The first wife takes precedence of all others.--Generosity of disposition evinced by the Mussulmaun ladies.--Divorces obtained under certain restrictions.--Period of solemnizing marriage.--Method adopted in choosing a husband or wife.--Overtures and contracts of marriage, how regulated.--Mugganee, the first contract.--Dress of the bride elect on this occasion.--The ceremonies described as witnessed.--Remarks on the bride.--Present from the bridegroom on Buckrah Eade... Page 179
LETTER XIV
Wedding ceremonies of the Mussulmauns.--The new or full moon propitious to the rites being concluded.--Marriage settlements unknown.--Control of the wife over her own property.--Three days and nights occupied in celebrating the wedding.--Preparations previously made by both families.--Ostentatious display on these occasions.--Day of Sarchuck.--Customs on the day of Mayndhie.--Sending Presents.--Day of Baarraat.--Procession of the bridegroom to fetch the bride.--The bride's departure to her new home.--Attendant ceremonies explained.--Similarity of the Mussulmaun and Hindoo ceremonies.--Anecdote of a Moollah.--Tying the Narrah to the Moosul...Page 195
LETTER XV
On the birth and management of children in Hindoostaun.--Increase of joy on the birth of a Son.--Preference generally shown to male children.--Treatment of Infants.--Day of Purification.--Offerings presented on this occasion to the child.--The anniversary of the birthday celebrated.--Visit of the father to the Durgah.--Pastimes of boys.--Kites.--Pigeons.--The Mhogdhur.--Sword-exercise.--The Bow and Arrows.--The Pellet-bow.--Crows.--Sports of Native gentlemen.--Cock-fighting.--Remarks upon horses, elephants, tigers, and leopards.--Pigeon-shooting.--Birds released from captivity on particular occasions.--Reasons for the extension of the royal clemency in Native Courts.--Influence of the Prime Minister in the administration of justice...Page 210
LETTER XVI
Remarks on the trades and professions of Hindoostaun.--The Bazaars.--Naunbye (Bazaar cook).--The Butcher, and other trades.--Shroffs (Money-changers).--Popular cries in Native cities.--The articles enumerated and the venders of them described.--The Cuppers.--Leechwomen.--Ear-cleaners.--Old silver.--Pickles.--Confectionery.--Toys.--Fans.--Vegetables and fruit.--Mangoes.--Melons.--Melon-cyder.--Fish.--Bird-catcher.--The Butcher-bird, the Coel, and Lollah.--Fireworks.--Parched corn.--Wonder-workers.--Snakes.--Anecdote of the Moonshie and the Snake-catcher.--The Cutler.--Sour curds.--Clotted cream.--Butter.--Singular process of the Natives in making butter.--Ice.--How procured in India.--Ink.--All writing dedicated to God by the Mussulmauns.--The reverence for the name of God.--The Mayndhie and Sulmah...Page 228
LETTER XVII
Seclusion of Females.--Paadshah Begum.--The Suwaarree.--Female Bearers.--Eunuchs.--Rutts.--Partiality of the Ladies to Large retinues.--Female Companions.--Telling the Khaunie.--Games of the Zeenahnah.--Shampooing.--The Punkah.--Slaves and slavery.--Anecdote.--The Persian Poets.--Fierdowsee.--Saadie, his 'Goolistaun'.--Haafiz.--Mahumud Baarkur.--'Hyaatool Kaaloob'.--Different manner of pronouncing Scripture names...Page 248
LETTER XVIII
Evils attending a residence in India.--Frogs.--Flies.--Blains.-- Musquitoes.--The White Ant.--The Red Ant.--Their destructive habits.--A Tarantula.--Black Ants.--Locusts.--Superstition of the Natives upon their appearance.--The Tufaun, or Haundhie (tempest).--The rainy season.--Thunder and lightning.--Meteors.-- Earthquakes.--A city ruined by them.--Reverence of the Mussulmauns for saints.--Prickly heat.--Cholera Morbus.--Mode of Treatment.--Temperance the best remedy.--Recipe...Page 258
LETTER XIX
Kannoge.--Formerly the capital of Hindoostaun.--Ancient castle.--Durability of the bricks made by the aborigines.--Prospect from the Killaah (castle).--Ruins.--Treasures found therein.--The Durgah Baallee Peer Kee.--Mukhburrahs.--Ancient Mosque.--Singular structure of some stone pillars.--The Durgah Mukdoom Jhaunneer.--Conversions to the Mussulmaun Faith.--Anecdote.--Ignorance of the Hindoos.--Sculpture of the Ancients.--Mosque inhabited by thieves.--Discovery of Nitre.--Method of extracting it.--Conjectures of its produce.--Residence in the castle.--Reflections...Page 274
LETTER XX
Delhi.--Description of the city.--Marble hall--The Queen's Mahul (palace).--Audience with the King and Queen.--Conversation with them.--Character of their Majesties.--Visit to a Muckburrah.--Soobadhaars.--The nature of the office.--Durgah of Shah Nizaam ood deen.--Tomb of Shah Allum.--Ruins in the vicinity of Delhi. --Antique pillars (Kootub).--Prospect from its galleries.--Anecdotes of Juangheer and Khareem Zund...Page 289
LETTER XXI
Natural Productions of India.--Trees, shrubs, plants, fruits, &c.--Their different uses and medicinal qualities.--The Rose.--Native medical practice.--Antidote to Hydrophobia.--Remedy for the venom of the Snake.--The Chitcherah (Inverted thorn).--The Neam-tree.--The Hurrundh (Castor-tree).--The Umultass (Cassia-tree).--The Myrtle.--The Pomegranate.--The Tamarind.--The Jahmun.--The Mango.--The Sherrefah.--White and red Guavers.--The Damascus Fig.--The Peach, and other Fruits.--The Mahdhaar (Fire-plant).--The Sirrakee and Sainturh (Jungle-grass).--The Bamboo, and its various uses enumerated...Page 304
LETTER XXII
Monkeys.--Hindoo opinions of their Nature.--Instances of their sagacity.--Rooted animosity of the Monkey tribe to the snake.--Cruelty to each other when maimed.--The female remarkable for affection to its young.--Anecdotes descriptive of the belief of the Natives in the Monkey being endowed with reason.--The Monkeys and the Alligator.--The Traveller and the Monkeys.--The Hindoo and the Monkey...Page 324
LETTER XXIII
The Soofies.--Opinion of the Mussulmauns concerning Solomon.--The Ood-ood.--Description of the Soofies and their sect.--Regarded with great reverence.--Their protracted fasts.--Their opinion esteemed by the Natives.--Instance of the truth of their predictions.--The Saalik and Majoob Soofies.--The poets Haafiz and Saadie.--Character and attainments of Saadie.--His 'Goolistaun'.--Anecdotes descriptive of the origin of that work.--Farther remarks on the character and history of Saadie.--Interesting anecdotes illustrative of his virtues and the distinguishing characteristics of the Soofies...Page 331
LETTER XXIV
The Soofies continued.--Eloy Bauxh.--Assembly of Saalik Soofies.--Singular exhibition of their zeal.--Mystery of Soofeism.--The terms Soofie and Durweish explained.--Anecdote of Shah Sherif.--Shah Jee and the Paltaan.--Dialogue on death between Shah Jee and his wife.--Exemplary life of his grandson.--Anecdote of a Mussulmaun lady.--Reflections on modern Hindoos.--Anecdotes of Shah ood Dowlah and Meer Nizaam...Page 348
LETTER XXV
Mussulmaun Devotees.--The Chillubdhaars.--Peculiar