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)

354 A SUSPECTED WITCH.

rating her gratitude to him as her preserver
from the fury of an angry populace, who had
already beaten her with slippers on her head,
as a prelude to their future harsh intentions
towards her. She stretched out her hands to
touch him and bless him, as is the custom with
the lower orders of women to their superior of
either sex, but the multitude insisted she
should not be allowed to let her unhallowed
hands fall on the good Mussulmaun gentleman;
in a second was to be heard the invocations of
Hindoos and Mussulmauns, on their several
sources of supreme aid, to save the gentleman
from her power, for all the mob felt persuaded
the old woman was a witch.

" Be assured you are mistaken, I, at least,
have no fears that her touch can harm me ;"
responded my friend. "Exercise your reason
—is she not a human being like ourselves ?
True she is old and ugly, but you are really
wicked in accusing and ill-treating the poor
wretch." They were silenced for a few
minutes, then declared she must be a witch,
for her feet were crooked, she was desired