﻿A SECT COMMONLY DENOMINATED NUTS. 453 



tutehiry deity ; consequently tliey look up to him 

 for success and safety in all their professional ex- 

 ploits. "These consist of playing on various instru- 

 ments, singing, dancing, tumbling, Ike. The two 

 latter accomplishments arc peculiar to the M'omen of 

 this sect. The notions of religion and a future state 

 among this vagrant race, are principally derived from 

 their sor.gs, w'hich are beautifully simple. They are 

 commonly the production o^ Kubcer, a poet of great 

 fame, and who, considering the nature of his poems, 

 deserves to be stiH better known *, On every occa- 



G G 3 sion 



* He was a weaver by trade, and flourished in the reign of S/jer 

 Shah, the Crotnnvell of InAvdw history. There are, however, various 

 and contradictory traditions relative to our humble philosopher, as some 

 accounts bring him down to the time of Ukbur. All, however, agree 

 as to his being a Soofee or Deist of the most exalted sentiments, and of 

 the most anbounded bf-nevolence. He reprobated with severity the re- 

 ligious intolerance and worship of both Hiftdoos and Moo/ulmans, in 

 such a pleasing poetic strain of rustic wit, humour, and sound reasoning, 

 that to this day both nations contend for the honwur of h:s birth, in 

 their respective sects or tribes. He published a book of poems that are 

 still universally cteemed, as they inculcate the purest morality, and the 

 greatest good will and hospitality to all the children of Man. From 

 the disinterested yet alluring doctrines they contain, a sect has sprung 

 up in Hindoostafi under the name of Kuheer-puntjoee, who are so univer- 

 sally esteemed for veracity and other virtues among hQX\\ Hhuiooi .^nd 

 Moosuimans, that they may be with propriety considered the ^inkers 

 of this hciiiisphcre. They resemble that respectable body in the neat- 

 ness of their dress and simplicity of their manners, which are neither 

 strictly Moohummudtm nor Hhidunvee • being rather a mixture of the 

 best parts of both. A translation of Kubcer's works, wi:h the life of 

 that sage, and an account of his followers, relative to their tenets and 

 societies, remain still as desiderata in the history of India. The time 

 of Kubcer's death seems involved in eqi:al obscurity with the manner 

 of his decease and burial. They relate that helived a Jong time at Kajecy 

 near Gyfi, and sojourned also at Jug7trnat h wi.ere he gave great of- 

 fence to the Bruhnnuis by his conduct and toieranc doctrines. When 

 stricken in years, he departed this life among a concourse of his dis- 

 ciple, both Moosuimans a!id Hindoos. They quarrelled about the mode 

 cf disposing of his remains, which were plated in another apartment 

 during the dispute. The Mocfiilmans were, it is alleged, victors, and 

 buried him accordingly. 1 he Hhidoos aflirm, however, that his body 

 during the altercation disappc;ired, and a Lotos flower was found in its 

 stead, which they have carefully preserved. Be this as it may, it is 



certain 



