Three years passed away after the fatal encounter
mentioned in the last Chapter, and Doctor Hartley
returning from his appointed mission, which was only
temporary, received encouragement to settle in Madras
in a medical capacity; and upon having done so, soon
had reason to think he had chosen a line in which
he might rise to wealth and reputation. His practice
was not confined to his countrymen, but much sought
after among the natives, who, whatever may be their
prejudices against the Europeans in other respects,
universally esteem their superior powers in the medical
profession. This lucrative branch of practice
rendered it necessary that Hartley should make the
Oriental languages his study, in order to hold communication
with his patients without the intervention of an interpreter.
He had enough of opportunities to practise as a linguist,
for, in acknowledgment, as he used jocularly to say,
of the large fees of the wealthy Moslemah and Hindoos,
he attended the poor of all nations gratis, whenever
he was called upon.
It so chanced, that one evening he was hastily summoned
by a message from the Secretary of the Government,
to attend a patient of consequence. “Yet
he is, after all, only a Fakir,” said the message.
“You will find him at the tomb of Cara Razi,
the Mahomedan saint and doctor, about one coss from
the fort. Enquire for him by the name of Barak
el Hadgi. Such a patient promises no fees; but
we know how little you care about the pagodas; and,
besides, the Government is your paymaster on this
occasion.”
“That is the last matter to be thought on,”
said Hartley, and instantly repaired in his palanquin
to the place pointed out to him.
The tomb of the Owliah, or Mahomedan Saint, Cara Razi,
was a place held in much reverence by every good Mussulman.
It was situated in the centre of a grove of mangos
and tamarind-trees, and was built of red stone, having
three domes, and minarets at every corner. There
was a court in front, as usual, around which were
cells constructed for the accommodation of the Fakirs
who visited the tomb from motives of devotion, and
made a longer or shorter residence there as they thought
proper, subsisting upon the alms which the Faithful
never fail to bestow on them in exchange for the benefit
of their prayers. These devotees were engaged
day and night in reading verses of the Koran before
the tomb, which was constructed of white marble, inscribed
with sentences from the book of the Prophet, and with
the various titles conferred by the Koran upon the
Supreme Being. Such a sepulchre, of which there
are many, is, with its appendages and attendants,
respected during wars and revolutions, and no less
by Feringis, (Franks, that is,) and Hindoos, than
by Mahomedans themselves. The Fakirs, in return,
act as spies for all parties, and are often employed
in secret missions of importance.
