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)

290 ANECDOTE OF SHAH SHEET*1.

hours, but without in the least reducing their
grief, or moderating their bewailings: they
could not, and would not be comforted.

"Well," said the Durweish, " since the sepa-
ration I have predicted causes you all so much
sorrow, it would be better, perhaps, that we part
not. I have thought of another method to
avoid the pangs of separation; I will offer my
prayers this night to the gracious Giver of all
good, that He may be pleased to permit ye all
to bear me company in death."

" Oh! stay your prayer!" said the wife of
the Durweish; " this must not be ; for if we all
die at once, who will perform the funeral rites,
and deposit our bodies in the earth ?" The
Durweish smiled at his wife's objection, and
answered, "This is of no consequence to us,
dear wife : the body may be likened to a gar-
ment that is thrown off when old; the soul
having worn its earthly covering for a season,
at the appointed time shakes off the perishable
piece of corruption, to enter into a purer state of
existence. It matters not if the body have a
burial or not; the soul takes no cognizance of