
1923.] A‘ Witch-case’ in Medieval India. 45 
There is also another source of information on this subject, i.e. 
many allusions and ‘occa sional anecdotes which are found 
different contents occasionally provide a good opportunity to 
catch a glimpse of these matters as they were in fact, and not 
only in theory. 
The present notice is intended to draw the attention of 
those interested in research of this kind to a specimen of 
material of the last mentioned class. ‘Studying a Persian hagio- 
logical work, compiled chiefly from various earlier sources in the 
beginning of the XVIc.,I came acrossa short anecdote referrine 
to events of the XIII- XIV centuries, and containing a concise 
exposition of a really typical case of sorcery amongst tlie 
Muhammadan community of India in that remote period. In 
fact it is a miniature but complete ‘ witch-process,’ which 
probably ended without bloodshed because the evidence 
against the offender was not sufficient. It throws interest - 
appears to be a really peculiar mixture of great piety with un- 
shakable faith in magic rites, necromancy, in the absolute 
reality of dreams, and the great power of ‘incantations. But 
before giving the story both in the original text and in transla- 
tion, | must introduce to the reader the work from which it was 
extracted. 
Siyarw’l-‘arifin,' as the book in question is called, was 
composed by Hamid b. Fadli’l-lah Jamali, a devoted Sufi of 
Northern India, between 937 and 942 A.H. /1530-1535 A.D? 
It contains a collection of biographical pipes or rather stories 
of various miraculous deeds, of some 14 famous saints of the 
celebrated Indian Sufic affiliation of the Chishtis, to which the 
author himself oe In the section — with the 
European scholars are rarely re nn i in very great demand in tho 
Oriental book-markets. The number he works on this subject. wonsied 
have been lith ographed i in lacie only is pete — These edition 
are usually very cheap and even with moderate means a student can ook 
rte in in Principal bovk-pablishing Lage of India, aaa piece 
eed Pes haw and Bombay, a — libra fy of these books i 
mete Ar ee C. Rieu, Cat. of pine rs. “MSS. in the British 
Museum, vol. I, p. 354; W. Pertsch, Verz. d. Persischen Handschr. (P.K. 
Bibliothek zu Berlin), p. 556; H. Ethé, Cat. of the Pers. MSS. im the 
library of — India Office, vol. I, No 637. _ Long ago a was lithographed 
in India, b I use this work 
needs in the 1s. of the ‘Government tullection® in is library of the 
A.S8 eet 
the. a date refers to the ascension to tailiss throne of — un, 
the Mogul ruler of Indi vay whee He bee * second is 
ap gecineath 8 theo author’ s death. a re is 

Ssoeuihy i tas poets 
