[3] Sadaqah, used in the Koran (ii. 265) for almsgiving.  In India the
    term is applied to the custom by which money, clothes, grain, &c., are
    waved over a patient, or only shown to him, and then given away to
    beggars; or they are placed near the foot of a tree, on the bank of a
    river, or where four roads meet, and are then supposed to carry away
    the disease with them.—­Jaffur Shurreef, Qanoon-e-Islam, p. 252.

[4] Imam zamini, ‘a gift to the guardian saint’.  When about to
    go on a journey, or when any misfortune befalls a person, a coin or
    metal ring is tied up in a cloth coloured with turmeric, in the name
    of the Imam Zamin, and worn on his left arm.  When the traveller
    reaches his destination, or gets rid of his affliction, it is taken
    off, and its value, with some money in addition, is spent in food or
    sweetmeats, which are offered in the name of the saint.—­Jaffur
    Shurreef, p. 182.

[5] Pak.

[6] Imam Zamani, Zamani tum karo.

[7] Munshi, ‘a writer, secretary’.

[8] Shukr Allah.

[9] Bi’smi’llah:  the full form is
    bi’smi’llah’r-rahmani’r-rahim, ’In the name of Allah,
    the Compassionate, the Merciful!’ These latter titles are omitted when
    going into battle, or when slaughtering animals.

[10] The Prophet ordered that when a dog drinks from a vessel, it must be
    washed seven times, the first cleansing being with earth.  But the dog
    of the Seven Sleepers will be admitted into Heaven.—­Koran,
    xviii. 17.

LETTER XI

Mussulmaun festivals.—­Buckrah Eade.—­Ishmael believed to have been offered in sacrifice by Abraham and not Isaac.—­Descent of the Mussulmauns from Abraham.—­The Eade-gaarh.—­Presentation of Nuzzas.—­Elephants.—­Description of the Khillaut (robe of honour).—­Customs on the day of Buckrah Eade.—­Nou-Roze (New Year’s Day).—­Manner of its celebration.—­The Bussund (Spring-colour).—­The Sah-bund.—­Observances during this month.—­Festival of the New Moon.—­Superstition of the Natives respecting the influence of the Moon.—­Their practices during an eclipse.—­Supposed effects of the Moon on a wound.—­Medicinal application of lime in Hindoostaun.—­Observance of Shubh-burraat.

An account of the Mussulmaun festivals, I imagine, deserves a Letter; for in many of them I have been able to trace, not only the habits and manners of the people with whom I was sojourning, but occasionally marks of their particular faith have been strongly developed in these observances, to most of which they attach considerable importance.  Buckrah Eade, for instance, is a festival about as interesting to the Natives, as Christmas-day is to the good people of England; and the day is celebrated amongst all classes and denominations of Mussulmauns with remarkable zeal and energy.