Indian Antiquary Vol 14

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

Page 36

28
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JANUARY, 1885.
congregation were waiting and wondering bring me some bread. I will give you the money. what the imám was doing. Perhaps they I want the bread for distribution among the thought that he was a little faint. However, poor in the name of my deceased father." at last, one worshipper lifted his head, and on The man considering this to be a real work discovering that both their priest and wraps for God, gladly consented, and started to fetch had disappeared, shouted to his fellow-dupes, the bread. When he had gone a little distance "Sorrow, a hundred sorrows, 0 brethren! Sharaf again called to him saying, "Come here. Sharaf Tsûr has met with us. We have been Perhaps you will not return. Please to leave led in prayer by an unbelieving rogue !" your wrap here with me, until you come again (III.)
with the bread." As there was nothing On another occasion, it is reported that a suspicious about this arrangement, the man weaver was coming from a certain village, and unfastened his cloth, and deposited it by the bringing with him some linen cloth to sell in side of the supposed devout man. Alas! No Srinagar. Sharaf chanced to be passing that sooner had he got out of sight, than Sharaf, way, and, saluting the man, asked him for how taking the linen cloth, departed in another much he would dispose of his burden. The direction. It was rather a good bargain: a big, weaver answered, “Three rupees." After a strong cloth for a few paisás! little flattery and quibbling Sharaf again asked
(V.) him once and for all to state the proper price. A horse-donler once unluckily happened to The man, then calling upon the name of God cross the path of Sharaf. He was mounted and His Prophet, said that the cloth cost him upon a sleek, swift horse. Sharaf in his only eight anás less than he asked. "Was this heart admired the animal, and wished to have too much profit for all his labour P" Sharaf, it. "How much do you want for the horse ?" however, appeared not to believe him oven then, he asked. “One hundred rupees," was the but gathering some dust together and smooth. reply. “Very well," said Sharaf. "I will try ing it a little into slape, ordered the man him to see if he has any vice or not. Let me to consider it as the very tomb of Muham- get up." No sooner was Sharaf upon the mad, and to swear again accordingly, putting horse, than he dug his heels into the beast's his hands in orthodox fashion upon the little sides, and was soon out of sight, far, far heap. The good weaver, in all confidence, did beyond the poor duped horse-dealer's shouts so, but Sharaf had kept some dust in his hand, and cries. and whilst the man was bending in all reverence over the supposed grave, took a good A pandit' walking on the river-side happenaim at his eyes, and picking up the bundle ofed to be wearing a new 'well-made teddar cloth ran away. It is not necessary to add that (blanket). Sharaf seeing this, jumped into an the poor weaver was so blinded and surprised empty boat, which was fastened by a string that he was unable to see or to do anything to a post fixed in the bank, and, pretending except to roll about in agony lamenting his sad that he was a boatman somewhat unwell, asked
the pandit to come and help him, in return for (IV.)
the short cut and ride in the boat. The One day Sharaf sat by a tomb and pretended pandit readily consented. that he was reading the fatiha, or first chapter It was some time before they arrived at of the Qurán. Meanwhile a man passed by, their destination, and already darkness had whom Sharaf called to come near to him. The set in; so the boatman, assuming an expres. man obeyed, and asked what he desired. sion of great gratitude, said to the panSharaf replied, "May God bless you. Please dit: "It is already late, and your home, you
(VI.)
lot.
It is a common ordeal amongst ignorant people to stick a twig into the ground, and suppose it to be the staff of Pir-i-Dastagir, the famous saint of Baghdad, who flourished A.D. 1078-1166, and is better known as 'Abdu'l-Qadir Jilani, or to take a hair and imagine it to be one from the Prophet's own beard, and cause the friends with whom they are bargaining or bantering to swear by it. It is astonishing the influence this exer.
cises over the people.
This very trick was played upon an official at Firozpur in 1880, the horse being eventually recovered by the police at Jammů.-(R.C.T.)
• The term pandit in Kashmir does not necessarily mean A learned man. All Kashmiri Hindús, on the assumption that they all belong to the Brůhman caste, are called parhite.