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 2) (London, 1832)

268 THE SOOFIES.

LETTER XXIV.

The Soofies continued.—Eloy Bauxh.—Assembly of Saalik
Soofies.—Singular exhibition of their zeal.—Mystery of
Soofeism.—The term Soofie and Durweish explained.—
Anecdote of Shah Sheriff.—Shah Jee and the Pattaan.—
Dialogue on death between Shah Jee and his wife.—Ex-
emplary life of his grandson.—Anecdote of a Mussulmaun
lady.—Reflections on modern Hindoos.—Anecdotes of
Shah ood Dowlah and Meer Nizaam.

My last Letter introduced the Soofies to
your notice, the present shall convey a fur-
ther account of some of these remarkable cha-
racters who have obtained so great celebrity
among the Mussulmauns of India, as to form
the subjects of daily conversation. I have heard
some rigid Mussulmauns declare they discredit
the mysterious knowledge a Soofie is said to
possess, yet the same persons confess themselves
staggered by the singular circumstances attend-
ing the practice of Soofies living in their vicinity,