Indian Antiquary Vol 14

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

Page 38

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JANUARY, 1885.
celebrated mosque of Bahau'd-dîn and there | The man did so, and in a short while had duy to pray for treasure. Like many others he so deep, that he could not be seen at a short supposed that the great God through Shekh distance from the hole, nor could he see any. Bahâu'd-din's intercessions would grant him the thing outside desire of his heart, and so he went time after Now his clothes had been laid well aside. time praying with all sincerity," O Bahau'd-din, Sharaf had seen to this arrangement. So give me some-treasure, give me some trea. when the man had almost dug the two yards sure." One day Sharaf was walking past the and was at the pitch of excitement, expecting mosque and overheard the man at his devo- every moment that his spade would strike tions. He thought that he might not only something hard, either gold or silver or some deceive him, but probably also make some other precious thing, Sharaf carefully took up profit out of him.
the clothes, blankets, and one hundred ropees, Accordingly early on the following morning and was soon lost in the darkness and intricacies he went to this mosque, and secreted himself of the jungle. in a very dark corner. He waited till the It is said that the poor treasure-seeker man came as usual, and when he uttered his worked on until he had only just suficient request for treasure, Sharaf, from out of the strength to draw himself up to the top of the darkness, replied, "O holy man, you have cer- pit, and that then on seeing that his money, tainly been most assiduous in your devotions wraps, blankets, and saint were not there he and have been most persistent in your request. loosened his hold and fell back insensible into Now understand that I am well pleased with
the pit. you, and am quite ready, yea willing, to comply with your wishes." The man, thinking One day Sharaf met a poor peasant, who this to be none other than Bahâu'd-din himself was pushing along a sheep to the market. again pleaded, and now with bolder voice, his Sharaf enquired the price of the animal. The request. Sharaf told him to come at an ap- peasant replied, " four rupees." After a little pointed time with the tools and implements wrangling the price was finally fixed at three necessary for unearthing the treasure. He rupees, and Sharaf told the man to bring the was to bring one hundred rupees also, and two sheep to his house, where he would give him tsádars for taking home the treasure, and the money. The man consented, glad to get to be very careful not to broach the matter to rid of his burden so quickly. They had not anyone. The man returned to his house with proceeded far before Sharaf noticed an empty great joy, and could not sleep for the thought of house, having door in front and a door the great treasure which would be discovered at the back. He told the man that this to him on the morrow. He was a very poor was his humble abode, and, taking the sheep, man, and not having one hundred rupees at swung it over his shoulders, and walked inside. hand was obliged to sell his property to get He then shut the front door and bade the man the money.
to wait whilst he went for the money. As will On the morrow at the dead of night, he was at be imagined, while the peasant was most the place of meeting, tools on his shoulder and patiently and happily squatting outside the money in his blanket, while another blanket was door, Sharaf had gone out by the back door and thrown over his other shoulder. Sharaf came knowing every yard of the neighbourhood, and forth to greet him. After the usual salutation being swift of foot also, he soon managed to elude he led the way into a little jungle, whither man all possibility of being taken. After an hour or seldom wandered, and showed the treasure- 80 another man, in order to cut his journey seeker the place where he would find the short, had entered the same dwelling by the answer to his prayers. He ordered him to dig back door, and was coming out by the front door, two yards deep. The man soon accomplished when the peasant seized him and demanded his half of his task, but the sweat drops were upon sheep. The traveller was rather annoyed at this his brow. Sharaf noticed them and told the sudden and unwelcome interruption to his man to take off his clothes and lay them on one journey, and showed his displeasure in a rather side, and then he would be able to work easily. I practical way.