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)

270 THE SAALIK SOOFIES.

large, and free admittance allowed to all persons
choosing to attend the assembly, Meer Eloy
Bauxh and his party entered, and seated them-
selves in a convenient place for the more strict
scrutiny of the passing scene.

"The service for the occasion began with
a solemn strain by the musical performers,
when one of the inspired Soofies commenced
singing in a voice of remarkable melody. The
subject was a hymn of praise to the great
Creator, most impressively composed in the
Persian language. Whilst the Soofie was sing-
ing, one of the elders in particular,—though all
seemed sensibly affected by the strain,—rose
from his seat, in what the Soofies themselves
call, ' the condition changed,' which signifies,
by what I could learn, a religious ecstacy.
This person joined in the same melody which
the other Soofie had begun, and at the same
time accompanied the music by capering and
sobbing in the wildest manner imaginable. His
example had the effect of exciting all the
Soofies on whom his eyes were cast to rise also
and join him in the hymn and dance.