24 Captain Postans on the Piliichi Tribes inhabiting Sindh, 
any beyond the mere outward forms of their profession, they 
leave the whole to Scynds, Pirs, and other holy men, who 
are well paid, and encouraged to settle amongst them ; so 
great is their reverence for these sacred characters, that 
they find a safe conduct at all times for themselves, and 
those whom they choose to protect, even through the most 
murderous clans, and in localities where no other stranger 
dare venture to trust himself; and are always employed as 
mediators to settle quarrels. If a Biltch have the promise 
of a Scynd, he considers himself safe; but he knows full 
well the little value of that of his deadly enemy. Of course, 
under such circumstances, many claim the prophetic descent, 
who are little entitled to it; and, indeed, most of these men 
in Sindh and Bilichistan are as ignorant as all around them, 
though, such is their enthusiasm, that many learn the sacred 
volume by rote, without being able to translate a single 
word, and thus acquire the title so much coveted of 
“ Hafiz,” or remembrancer. For the Koran they hold a su- 
perstitious reverence, commensurate with their ignorance of 
its contents; and a Bildchi falls on his knees when the sacred 
volume is produced: he would not dare even to touch it ; but 
when he takes an oath, the book is put upon his head by the 
priest or scynd. Each tribe has its spiritual pastor, and a 
great portion of Sindhian cultivated territory was held in 
enam or gift by these men. A great authority, on Sindhian 
matters, has said (Mr Crow), “ that the Sindhian has no li- 
berality but in feeding lazy Scynds—no zeal but in propa- 
gating the faith—no spirit but in celebrating the edes or 
festivals,—and no taste but in ornamenting old tombs :”’ this 
is certainly true of the Bilachis. Reputed holy and rapacious 
mendicants flourish amongst them whilst living, and their 
tombs become places of pilgrimage after death. In their 
fanatical zeal, they carry proselytism to the extent of often 
forcibly circumcising Hindiés; and those of the latter, who 
held the principal offices as revenue collectors under the late 
Bilachi government, were invariably obliged to adopt the 
beard and full costume of the Mahomedan. The exactions 
of holy mendicants in Sindh are a real source of evil to the 
country ; and so great are their numbers, and so distinct is 
