Meer Hassan Ali, B.: Observations on the Mussulmauns of India: descriptive of their manners, customs, habits, and religious opinions ; made during a twelve years residence in their immediate Society (Band 1) (London, 1832)

44 SELF-INFLICTED ABSTINENCE

ghee, salt, pepper, and spices; these ingre-
dients being considered by the zealous females
too indulgent and luxurious for humble mourners
during Mahurrum.

The pawn leaf, another luxury of no small
moment to Asiatic tastes, is now banished for
the ten days' mourning. A very poor substi-
tute has been adopted, in the mixture de-
scribed at the gentlemen's assembly—it is call-
ed goattur. The truth is, their health would
suffer from any long disuse of tobacco-leaf,
lime, and a bitter gum, which are in general
use with the pawn; the latter is of a warm
aromatic nature, and imparts a fine flavour to
the other ingredients; but, as it is considered
a great indulgence to eat pawn, they abstain
from it altogether during Mahurrum;—the mix-
ture, they say, is only allowed for health's sake.

When visitors call on the Mussulmaun ladies
at Mahurrum, the goattur is presented on trays,
accompanied by bags, neatly embroidered in
silver and gold, of many different shapes and
patterns, mostly their own work and invention;
they are called buttooah and jhaumdanies.