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)

MEER IIADJEE SHAH. 405

liome, a brother of his wife's arrived at the
mansion, and required, in Fatima's presence, a
loan of five hundred pieces of silver. This could
only be obtained by Fatima's consent, who
firmly declared her resolution not to betray the
trust her uncle had reposed in her. The wife
was severe in her censures on her husband's
parsimony, as she termed his prudence, and
reviled Fatima for being the favoured person
in charge of his property. This woman in
her rage against the unoffending girl, struck
her several times with violence. Situated as
their residence was, apart from a single neigh-
bour, she feared to stay during her uncle's
absence, and left the house not knowing ex-
actly where to seek a temporary shelter ; but
recollecting a distant relation of her mother's
resided at Bytool Faakere, no great distance
off (within a walk as she imagined), she left
her home without further reflection, unattended
by a single servant.

" When within a mile of her destined place
of refuge, she was observed by a party of
Bedouin robbers, who descended from their