Indian Antiquary Vol 14

Author(s): John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 35

JANUARY, 1885.]
SHARAF THE THIEF.
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are quoted as having brought the thief before the courts, but as nothing could be thoroughly proved, nothing could be really done, and so those bereaved of their property had to submit, their only consolation being in the thought that this was their qismat or lot.
Sharaf Tsur was the son of Kabir Ghani, who was a very great and wealthy shawl mer chant, and lived near the Zaina Kadal, the fourth of the seven bridges spanning that part of the river Jhelam which flows through the city of Srinagar, and forming the principal means of inter-communication between the two sides of the city. Supposing that he would inherit his father's wealth, Sharaf made no effort to learn his father's business, or to provide himself with any other means of livelihood. Consequently he developed into a lazy, listless and profligate fellow, apparently having as the only objects in life, eating, drinking, and spending money. One is not surprised to find, therefore, that on his father's death he at once appropriated all his goods and money, and had soon squandered everything in magnificent fersts, expensive ndches, and bad society. What was he to do now P He could neither beg nor dig, so he determined to cultivate the craft of thieving.
A few native friends have given me the following stories still extant concerning this man, and there is every reason to be assured of their veracity.
(I.) One day Sharaf visited a certain garden disgaised in a dress of great pomp and style. Some children of very respectable parents were playing there in the shade of the beautiful trees. Sharaf noticed that several of the youngsters were wearing nice new shoes, and, going near, told them to sit down. According to custom the boys took off their shoes before doing so, but the thief bade them not to act thus on this oocasion, as Sharaf Tsar might be near, and would certainly take them. The boys laughed at the idea. “Take them," they said. “What would you have us to think P Are we fools or blind P These shoes are placed close by our side. How could they possibly be removed without our noticing it P" The disguised thief, now finding his opportunity, replied, “Wait a
moment. I will show you how." Sharaf then went away a little distance to well scan the neighbourhood, and seeing that there was nobody to mind at hand, he returned, took up all the shoes in a cloth, and again went away. A second time, however, he did not return, although the little company of boys shouted for him on all sides, and waited anxiously for his appearance. They had a suspicion that the man was Sharaf Tsûr, and the matter was "blazed abroad over the city, but nothing could be discovered.
(II.) Batmálun is the name of a big village, situated close to the city of Srinagar. Bata,' in Kashmiri, means food, cooked rice, &c., and málun is probably derived from the word mal, which means desire for food. Hence, perhaps, the meaning of Batmálun is faqir, 1.e., one who kept under his body, and was always more or less in want of food. At any rate there is a famous mosque in this place, sacred to the memory of a celebrated faqir, from whom both the village and the mosque derive their name. The holy man's grave is to be seen close by the mosque. Sharaf entered and assuming the guise of an imam, began to cry the bang, or the Musalman call to prayer. Many peasants on hearing this went and entered the mosque, and at a given signal arranged themselves for prayer. Before commencing their devotions Sharaf advised them to collect their tsádars, (i.e., sheets or woollen shawls, which they wear very much like English ladies woreclouds' when they were in vogue), and place them before him in a heap : "because" said he, “Sharaf Tsûr, I know, is wandering about near this building, and is not at all particular whether he thieves in a mosque, or in the bázár, or upon the highway." And they did so.
Now everyone who has watched a company of Musalmans praying, knows with what regularity they go through their genuflexions according as the imám proceeds with the prayers. During one of the long prostrations Sharaf, the pseudo-imám, hastily got up, and quietly seizing the bundle of woollen cloths, left the service by a little side door in the building. All this time, about the space of a minute, the
• Bhata in the plains.
• Onadar or chadar in Hindustant, and chddir in Persian.