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)

LAST DAY OF MAI1URRUM. 87

the flowers of uberuck, and the other parapher-
nalia of the marriage ceremony, follow in due
order. Then the camels and elephants, convey-
ing the tent equipage and luggage of Hosein,
form a long train, representing the supposed
style of his march from Medina to Kraabaallah.
The last and most judicious feature in the
arrangement is the several elephants with con-
fidential servants, distributing bread and money
to the poor, who are thus attracted to the rear
in countless numbers, leaving the cavalcade in
quiet possession of the space of roadway un-
crowded by the multitude. The bread given
on these occasions is in great esteem amongst
the females, who receive a small portion from
the followers on their return from Kraaba-
allah with veneration, for the Emaum's sake,
in whose name it is given. I have often
been led to the remembrance of past times
by this act of theirs, when the cross-buns of
Good-Friday were esteemed by the aged wo-
men as possessing virtues beyond the mere
substance of the cake.
- The whole line of march is guarded in each