DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15172#0099
CHAP. III.
MIHMANDAR.
65
of it, for he dared not take such a thing to his
country, and would not again use it. I civilly de-
clined the offer, and regretted that the information
regarding the materials of the saddle had been
traced to me ; for, as he liked our fashions, it was a
pity he could not carry them to his own country.
Previous to the envoy's leaving us, he begged I
would give him an English brush, which I did with
pleasure ; but I did not consider it necessary to
add that, in addition to the skin of the unclean
beast, he would now have the bristles. He went
away in great good humour with the gift, for which
he offered me his palankeen.
I was sorry that I should have been the means
of giving uneasiness to the Afghan; for it seems
that he acquired his knowledge regarding the con-
struction of his saddle from our Sindian Mihman-
dar, Tukkee Shah, who had taunted him with
uncleanness. This person was a Syud, one of the
strictest Mahommedans I ever met. He was a
son of Meer Ismael Shah, and of Persian descent.
We found him intelligent and learned, and his
polished manners made us regret the loss of so
agreeable a companion. He left us at Bukkur, to
take temporary charge of the Shikarpoor district
during the absence of his brother, the Nawab. The
character of this person was singularly disfigured
by Mahommedan bigotry and superstition ; while
sceptical and dispassionate on all other topics, there
was no miracle too absurd for his credence in
religion. Among other fables, he assured me that
when the Imam Hoosein had been beheaded by the
VOL. I. F
MIHMANDAR.
65
of it, for he dared not take such a thing to his
country, and would not again use it. I civilly de-
clined the offer, and regretted that the information
regarding the materials of the saddle had been
traced to me ; for, as he liked our fashions, it was a
pity he could not carry them to his own country.
Previous to the envoy's leaving us, he begged I
would give him an English brush, which I did with
pleasure ; but I did not consider it necessary to
add that, in addition to the skin of the unclean
beast, he would now have the bristles. He went
away in great good humour with the gift, for which
he offered me his palankeen.
I was sorry that I should have been the means
of giving uneasiness to the Afghan; for it seems
that he acquired his knowledge regarding the con-
struction of his saddle from our Sindian Mihman-
dar, Tukkee Shah, who had taunted him with
uncleanness. This person was a Syud, one of the
strictest Mahommedans I ever met. He was a
son of Meer Ismael Shah, and of Persian descent.
We found him intelligent and learned, and his
polished manners made us regret the loss of so
agreeable a companion. He left us at Bukkur, to
take temporary charge of the Shikarpoor district
during the absence of his brother, the Nawab. The
character of this person was singularly disfigured
by Mahommedan bigotry and superstition ; while
sceptical and dispassionate on all other topics, there
was no miracle too absurd for his credence in
religion. Among other fables, he assured me that
when the Imam Hoosein had been beheaded by the
VOL. I. F