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)

TO THE MOOSUL. 393

" Another hour elapsed, and the wife's ordi-
nary patience was exhausted ; ' Go to your
master, slave!' she said with authority in her
voice and manner; ' go ask your master from
me, whether it is his intention to destroy the
peace of his house, and the happiness of his
family. Ask him, why he should delay per-
forming so important a duty at this ceremony,
when his own daughter's interest and welfare
are at stake V

" The slave faithfully conveyed the message,
and the moollah, finding that his domestic
peace depended on submitting to the supersti-
tious notions of his wife, accompanied the slave
to the zeenahnah without farther delay.

"The moollah's compliance with the absurd
desires of his wife surprised the students, who
discussed the subject freely in his absence. He
having always taught them the folly of prepidice
and the absurdity of superstition, they could not
comprehend how it was the moollah had been
led to comply with a request so much at variance
with the principles he endeavoured to impress
upon them.

VOL. I. 2d