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JANUARY, 1885.]
SHARAF THE THIEF.
29
say, is yet distant; will you not take dinner one thing more for me. Bring me some water here at my expense, and sleep in the boat, from the well of yonder mosque, that I may and then in the freshness of the morning quench my thirst. This pain has dried-up my go to your house ? Take this rupee, friend, very soul." The man went for the water, which I willingly offer you and go and buy doubting nothing, and meanwhile Sharaf went food." The pandit took the money and was also, so that when the poor weaver returned ho going to purchase some dinner with it, when was nowhere to be seen. Sharaf called him saying, “Come here. You
(VIII.) must be tired. I am quite recovered now and The natives are accustomed to keep their can arrange for your dinner. Sit here in the money and little valuables either tied up in boat, whilst I go and hire a servant to the waist-cloth, or fastened in a knot at the cook your dinner. And you had better end of the tsadar, or else secreted within give me your blanket, so that the cook may the turbans. The pir, or Musalman holy man, bring the dinner in it." The pandit, nothing of whom we are now going to write, followed suspecting and nothing loth, gave up his the latter plan. He had bought a piece of blanket and patiently waited in the boat for gold from a certain goldsmith and was on his some time; but at last, cold for the want of way home, tired and weary, because of his hot his blanket, and hungry for want of his and long journey. dinner, he got low-spirited, and after a little Sharaf got to know that this pir was carrytime longer wept aloud exclaiming, “I must ing a piece of gold in his turban, and racked have met with Sharaf Tsûr."
his brains to find means of depriving the good (VII.)
man of it. He walked fast, and when he had The next is the story of another weaver, got well ahead, he sat down by the waysido who also, like the weaver before mentioned, and began to weep. When the pir had was on his way to Srinagar to try and sell his reached the spot, he requested him to sit cloth. We have noticed that Sharaf had a down and rest and take some refreshment special liking for cloth. Accordingly, like the which he offered him in the name of his facanning fellow he was, he ran forward a little ther. The pir was very glad to do so, and was way, and then lay down upon the path pufling very soon enjoying the meal and the exceedingly and groaning, apparently in great pain. Some pleasant conversation of his chance host. men, who were travelling in that direction, col- Whether it was from eating some dragged lected round him, and expressed their sympathy. bread, or because of his long and trying walk, The weaver, too, came up and looked on.
we do not know, but it is certain that presently Sharaf gradually became a little better. he began to feel drowsy, and yielding to He opened his eyes and seemingly for the Sharaf's advice, soon lay down and slept. Shafirst time noticing the weaver's bundle, he raf took off his turban for him, and in various begged him in the name of God to lend it other ways soothed the par until he was fast to him, so that he might bind his loins asleep. Now was the opportunity for Sharaf. therewith. The weaver had compassion upon He took up the turban, and, with a look of the man and lent him the cloth. The i contempt for his sleeping guest, walked off effect of the bandage was marvellous. Only quietly to some secret place, and there lay down a few minutes after he had tied it Sharaf himself to sleep, exceedingly pleased with the said that he was better, and begged the look. day's business. The piece of gold was worth at ers-on to go, that he might have more air. least one hundred rupees. They all left except the weaver, to whom
(IX.) Sbaraf spoke in a most earnest tone, “God Another of Sharaf's dupes was a poor bless you for all your kindness. Please do fellow who was wont to go every day to the
Natives are very fond of binding their heads or arms or feet or legs just above the spot where the pain is, as a good strong binder has the effect of checking the blood and so lessening the pain. All nations seem to have discovered this way of obtaining relief. We English were much addicted to tight bandages in cases of
operation before the discovery of chloroform.
He sat down by the side of a grave: Musalmans prefer to bury their dead as close to the public ways possible, in order that the devout presers-by may offer up a prayer for them.
