1833.] A wanderer, an Indian sepoy. 233 
ent degree of toleration to enable them to live happily. An enume- 
ration of their restrictions might make them appear a persecuted race. 
They are not permitted to build temples, set up idols, or walk in pro- 
cession; they do not ride within the walls of the city, and must wear 
a peculiar dress. They pay the jzzzya, or capitation tax, which varies 
from four to eight rupees a year; but this they only render in common 
with others, not Muhammedans. They must never abuse or ill use a 
Muhammedan. When the King passes their quarter of the city, they 
must draw up and wish him health and prosperity. When on horseback 
outside the city, they must dismount if they meet His Majesty, or the 
Qazi. They are not permitted to purchase female slaves, as an infidel 
-would defile a believer ; nor do any of them bring their families beyond the 
Oxus. For these sacrifices, the Hindiis in Bokhdra live unmolested, and 
in all trials and suits have equal justice with the Muhammedans. I could 
hear of no forcible instance of conversion to Isldm, though three or 
four individuals had changed their creed in as many years. The de- 
portment of these people is most sober and orderly: one would imagine 
that the tribe had renounced laughter, if he judged by the gravity of 
their countenances. They themselves however speak highly of their 
privileges, and are satisfied at the celerity with which they can realize 
‘money, though it be at the sacrifice of their prejudices. There are 
about three hundred Hindaés in Bokhdra, and they live ina caravan- 
sery of their own. They are chiefly natives of Shikdrpir, in Sinde, 
-and their number is on the increase. The Uzbeks and indeed all 
the Muhammedans find themselves vanquished by the industry of these 
people, who will stake the largest sums of money for the smallest gain. 
Among the Hindis we had a singular visitor in a deserter from 
‘the Indian Army at Bombay! He had set out on a pilgrimage to 
-all the shrines of the Hindé world, and was then proceeding to 
the fire temples on the shores of the Caspian. I knew many of 
the officers of the Regiment (the 24th N. I.) to which he had be- 
longed, and felt pleased at hearing names which were familiar to 
me in this remote city. I listened with interest to the man’s detail 
of his adventures and travels, nor was he deterred by any fear that I 
would lodge information against him and secure his apprehension. 
looked upon him as a brother in arms, and he amused me with many a 
tale of our friend Murap Bue of Kindiz, whom he had served as a 
bombardier, and followed in his campaigns. This man, when he first 
‘shewed himself, was disguised in the dress of a pilgrim ; but the carriage 
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