488 Notice of the Tenets held by [Nov. 



from other treatises, fully mark the puritan system of doctrines, 

 which wherever it has heen embraced, pointedly distinguishes the fol- 

 lowers of Syed Ahmed from the bulk of the Mahommedan popula- 

 tion. Scattered in comparatively small bodies, over numerous parts of 

 the country, these people will probably be found to present every- 

 where nearly a uniform character, modified only by such broad traits 

 of differences as exist between the natives of Bengal and those of 

 Upper India. Mahommedanism, as it came pure from the lips, or 

 was exemplified in the life, of the Prophet, was the aim and profession 

 of the founder of the sect. Its members consider themselves the only 

 true Mahommedans, and regard the faith and practices of their coun- 

 trymen as little in advance of the idolatry of their Hindu neighbours. 

 They guard themselves as separate communities, apart from the con- 

 tagion of the ordinary superstitions ; they refuse to join their nearest 

 relatives in their most solemn and cherished ceremonies ; they are 

 arrogant, intolerant, ready to give offence by proclaiming their con- 

 tempt for the commonly received opinions and prejudices, often, where 

 they are strong enough, by open acts of turbulence and violence. 

 Wherever they exist, more or less of irritation may be expected to 

 arise between them and their brethren from whom they have separat- 

 ed ; but being commonly very much the inferior party in numbers, 

 they are likely to be kept down, or to get only noted and laughed at 

 for their excessive and precise zeal, and the ignorant conceit, (the 

 remark applies to the condition of the ordinary peasantry of the coun- 

 try,) which accompanies their pretensions as the professors of a reform- 

 ed belief and worship. They will, at the same time, probably, de- 

 serve the credit of being strict and sincere in the performance of the 

 prescribed exercises of their religion, and of having improved in many 

 points of moral character, in consequence of their change of doctrine. 

 AH these circumstances, and the nature of the doctrines themselves, 

 seem sufficiently to shew, that the sect is not calculated to be perma- 

 nently popular, or to spread very generally and rapidly, unless under 

 the impetus of some strong causes of excitement, of the occurrence of 

 which there is now but little probability. 



The innovations to be carefully shunned by every true Mahomme- 

 dan are divided in the treatise under three classes. The first, those 

 which have sprung from association with sceptics or heretics, and 

 with those who sin against the Unity, and give companions to God, 

 appearing like genuine Sufis*. The second, those which have been 



