188 SINDHIAN SUPERSTITIONS. 



canals executed by him, as for his unbounded 

 liberaUtj. He was, in fact, the Hatim Tai of 

 the province. It is said that no poor man ever 

 passed his door without being fed; and the 

 above mill-stones are considered sacred, for it 

 is declared and firmly believed that the Al- 

 mighty was so pleased with Datah's piety and 

 liberality, that if even a handful of grain was 

 thrown on them, the supply of flour was equal 

 to all demands. Whether they still retain this 

 virtue I cannot say, but they are always ap- 

 proached with bare feet, and are kept clean 

 and in good order. There is also a tomb over 

 the remains of a celebrated Peer, on poles 

 around which are hung numerous heel-ropes ; as 

 whenever a horse is afflicted with disease, the 

 owner makes a zearut at the tomb, and offers 

 the horse's heel-ropes, on his recovery, in grati- 

 tude for the saint's assistance. If any one 

 break a branch of the tree which overshadows 

 this tomb, it is believed that the curse of God 

 will be upon him. All Sindhis firmly believe in 

 magic and evil spirits ; and in this as in many 

 other particulars they much resemble the na- 

 tives of Egypt. Indeed, a process is practised 

 in Sindli, for the discovery of thieves and re- 



