FORMER RELIGION. 239 



they had been obliged to take the most precipitous 

 roads, and travelled only in the darkest hours of 

 the night, which, he said, I could not have done, 

 or he would himself have proposed my going, as 

 he wished me to see and know everything about 

 the country. I at length dropped the subject, for 

 how could I disbelieve him in this, who on all 

 other occasions had shown himself ready to give 

 me every information I required, and frequently 

 volunteered a great deal more; always valuable 

 when coming from a man of his good sense and 

 observation. 



During the march, passing by some kairns, we 

 began a conversation upon the Kafirs who formerly 

 occupied this country. Of the ancient religion 

 Ohmed Medina knew nothing, but he thought it 

 probable, when I pointed out the constant compass 

 bearing of the graves, and its reference to the 

 rising sun, that the former inhabitants might have 

 worshipped that luminary. On asking him what 

 was the belief of the present Soumaulee, he called 

 them " Monahfuk," that is, people who knew Allah 

 by name, and who acknowledged the Prophet, but 

 could not pray, their knowledge of Islamism ex- 

 tending only to the two expressions of " Ahum 

 d' Allah!" (" Thanks be to God!"), and "Mahomed 

 Abdurasuel!" ("Mahomed, slave of the Most 

 High ! ") 



Ohmed Medina did not deny that the Dankalli 

 and Soumaulee were formerly one people, although 



