DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5828#0208
A MOHAMMEDAN ROMANCE.
175
tions of humanity, however severe, as inconsist-
ent with the natural dignity of man. He was a
nohle specimen of the high-minded and independent
■Rajpoot. For years he had been deprived of sight.
An arrow, discharged by him at a deer during the
chase, in his youthful manhood, had glanced from a
tree and entered his eye. Inflammation supervening,
was communicated to the other eye, and total loss of
sight was the eventual consequence. Notwithstand-
ing so severe an affliction, and so great an impedi-
ment to his practice of archery, in which he had
always exhibited prodigious skill, he did not forego
the exercise of his favourite recreation, and such was
his acquired dexterity, in the course of years, that
he could hit a pigeon on the wing at the distance of
twenty yards, being directed to the object by the
sound of the bird's pinions. Long and persevering
practice had given him this extraordinary precision
of hand, and it became so great a marvel among his
neighbours, that many did not hesitate to believe he
had subjected himself to the controul of those super-
natural agents whom no good man would desire to
avow intercourse with, though it is certain that he
was as free from such evil communion as the unborn
babe.
The Rajpoot's dexterity in the use of his bow was
a matter altogether unknown to the governor of
Chandahar at the time of his visit to the well just
described, though he was aware of the existence of
the person so eminently accomplished in one of the
most difficult exercises of arms.
Knowing the acuteness of old women when voung
i 4
175
tions of humanity, however severe, as inconsist-
ent with the natural dignity of man. He was a
nohle specimen of the high-minded and independent
■Rajpoot. For years he had been deprived of sight.
An arrow, discharged by him at a deer during the
chase, in his youthful manhood, had glanced from a
tree and entered his eye. Inflammation supervening,
was communicated to the other eye, and total loss of
sight was the eventual consequence. Notwithstand-
ing so severe an affliction, and so great an impedi-
ment to his practice of archery, in which he had
always exhibited prodigious skill, he did not forego
the exercise of his favourite recreation, and such was
his acquired dexterity, in the course of years, that
he could hit a pigeon on the wing at the distance of
twenty yards, being directed to the object by the
sound of the bird's pinions. Long and persevering
practice had given him this extraordinary precision
of hand, and it became so great a marvel among his
neighbours, that many did not hesitate to believe he
had subjected himself to the controul of those super-
natural agents whom no good man would desire to
avow intercourse with, though it is certain that he
was as free from such evil communion as the unborn
babe.
The Rajpoot's dexterity in the use of his bow was
a matter altogether unknown to the governor of
Chandahar at the time of his visit to the well just
described, though he was aware of the existence of
the person so eminently accomplished in one of the
most difficult exercises of arms.
Knowing the acuteness of old women when voung
i 4