228 



and were more distant from her person, came in their turn to the 

 head of the camei, and look hold of the halter; which place, as 

 being ihe post of honour, they quitted to others when the princess 

 had gone a few paces. The erim's wife sent her women to meet, her, 

 to whom the halter was entirely quitted out of respect, her own 

 women putting themselves behind the camel. In this order they 

 marched to the tent where she alighted. They then sung all toge- 

 ther the beauty, birth, and good qualities of this princess." Voy. 

 dans la Palestine, p. 249- 



The Ayeen Akbery mentions both the Bhauts and Charuns. 

 The Hindoos say that Charun or Churrun, was created from the 

 will of Mahadeo, and that Bhaut issued from his spine; that these 

 were the founders of two distinct tribes : Charun composed verses, 

 sang the praises of, and revealed to mankind past and future 

 events. The tribe who bear his name are his descendants; the 

 greatest part of them employ themselves in singing hymns of 

 celebration, and in reciting genealogies. In. battle they repeat 

 warlike fables, to animate the troops; and they are also famous 

 for discovering secret things. Bhaut was the progenitor of the 

 tribe so called; who at least equal the Charuns in animating the 

 troops by martial songs, and in chronology excel them ; but the 

 charuns are better soldiers. There is hardly a great man through- 

 out Hindostan who hath not some of these tribes in his service. 



The transactions with the Gracias brought me more imme- 

 diately acquainted with the Hindoo seers, astrologers, and pro- 

 phets, of Guzerat. During my residence at Dhuboy I had fre- 

 quent occasions of slight intercourse with these extraordinary 

 people; who had pretended to foretel my periods of happiness, 



