Burnes, Alexander: Travels into Bokhara: containing the narrative of a voyage on the Indus from the sea to Lahore, ... and an account of a journey from India to Cabool, Tartary and Persia ; performed by order of the supreme government of India, in the years 1831, 32, and 33 (Band 2) (London, 1835)

CHAP, in.

a priest's advice.

91

described to be much under the influence of their
priests and Syuds, and I thought that the com-
pany of one might avail us on an occasion of
difficulty, since Moorcroft • had entirely trusted to
one of them, who is now in Peshawur. Moollah
Nujeeb assured me, on the other hand, that such a
person could never extricate us from any difficul-
ties, and would publish our approach every where ;
and he further insinuated, that many of the dis-
asters which had befallen the unfortunate Moor-
croft were to be attributed to one of these worthies.
Such advice from one who was a priest himself
deserved notice, and I afterwards ascertained the
justness of the Moollah's views.

It was, however, necessary to conciliate the holy
man to whom I have alluded, and I visited him.
His name was Fuzil Huq, and he boasts a horde of
disciples towards Bokhara, nearly as numerous as
the inhabitants. My introduction to him was
curious ; for Monsieur Court had desired his se-
cretary to write to another holy man of Peshawur,
whose name he had forgotten. In his difficulties
he applied to me, and knowing the influence of
Fuzil Huq, I mentioned him at random: the letter
was written by the secretary ; I delivered it, and
the saint was gratified at its receipt from a quarter
where he had no acquaintance. He received me
with kindness, and tendered his services most
freely, offering letters of introduction to all the

belief that1 a foreigner becomes sooner acclimated from the use
of that vegetable.