MAGICAL PROCEEDINGS. 197 



man spreading a carpet. At this time the boy- 

 was asked by the Seyud '' for what purpose the 

 carpet was spread;" after a few minutes he 

 answered, '' The king is coming — he is coming 

 from the south," pointing in that direction, and 

 addmg, ''he is on a bay horse with a golden 

 saddle and silk pad — he is now seated on his 

 throne." After a time he said, '' The king has 

 sent a man to catch the thief, he is bringing 

 him before the king, the thief protests his inno- 

 cence, but is beaten." The Seyud asked the boy 

 if he could recognise the thief, he replied, '' He 

 is a tall Hindoo with a closely-shaven beard and 

 small moustache, and there is another (meaning 

 an accomplice) of smaller stature, with beard 

 on the chin." The Seyud then asked '' if he 

 could recognise them amongst the people pre- 

 sent ;" he replied, '' Certainly." He was then 

 asked where the property was; he replied, " It 

 is tied up in a white cloth and buried in a cer- 

 tain place." The Seyud desired him to ask for 

 it; the boy replied, ''The king orders me to 

 follow him;" he then jumped up, still looking 

 in the cup, and the Seyud holding him by the 

 hand ; he led tho way to a large banyan tree, 

 in the Moonshee's court-yard, where ho seated 



