1096 Account of Khyrpoor and the Fortress of Bukur. [No. 107. 



The princes besides keeping dogs, wear their hair long, drink wine, and 

 indulge in other practices forbidden to Moosulmans. They easily acquired 

 a taste for the delicacies of Europe, and sent to the British bazar at Sukhur 

 for Maraschino, Cura9oa, and Cherry brandy, which they pronounced defi- 

 cient in strength, but superior in flavour to the fermented liquor prepared 

 from the date. Among the articles they purchased, were telescopes, 

 knives and forks, and white and coloured earthenware. Like their 

 relatives of Hydurabad, they have adopted the doctrines of the Sheeas ; 

 though the largest portion of their subjects, both Belooch and Sindees, 

 profess Sooneeism, which is the prevailing doctrine in Beloochistan, where 

 a bitter feeling exists against the followers of Ulee. Though anxious 

 to make converts whenever a pretext offers, they do not persecute the 

 Hindoos for their faith, and I did not hear of their suffering cruelty and 

 insult on that account. The Hindoo carefully avoids giving offence, and 

 though not permitted to build temples and exercise his religion openly 

 within the waUs of towns, has usually a small place of worship in the 

 suburbs ; but he is forbidden to use music and bells, to blow the shell and 

 fashion idols, and a little "red paint alone indicates the situation of 

 his gods.* . The Hindoos visit the shrines of saints, and other places 

 of Moosulman pilgrimage, which they have endowed with a sacred 

 character. The Bhattees and Arores form the great body of Hindoos 

 in Khyrpoor. The latter are the trading class, and nearly resemble in 

 feature their brethren of Western India, from whence they originally 

 emigrated, but are more neglectful of their dress and persons, and lax 

 in the observance of their faith. They eat and drink of forbidden things, 

 partake of food that has been touched by Moosulmans, and smoke from 

 their pipes, and are held, consequently, in disrepute by the pure Hindoo of 

 Muthoora and Bunarus. Only very poor Moosulmans ride upon donkeys; 

 but they are kept commonly by Brahmuns and wealthy Hindoo mer- 

 chants and bankers, who do not consider it a disgrace to mount an ass, 

 while it is, on the contrary, regarded by a Moosulman as degrading. It is 

 hardly necessary to state that the Hindoo of India cannot touch an ass 

 without being defiled : to mount him upon one is to degrade him. The 



* At Shikarpoor, there are many wealthy Hindoos, who have a Takoor Dwara 

 (Temple to Vishnoo,) and three temples to Mahadeo beyond the town walls. They 

 have idols, Artee and SunJch, and practice the observances of their faith unmolested. 

 They say the privilege was obtained by a celebrated Sadh, who astonished the 

 Moosulmans by his miracles. When they threatened to circumcise him, he turned 

 their mosques away from Mecca, and his persecutors being alarmed at such conspicu- 

 ous proof of his power, to get them righted permitted him to erect temples and 

 worship the Deity in his own fashion. Tymoor, the son and successor of Ahmud Shah, 

 first established Hindoos in the town, and the reason of the Ameers treating them with 

 such indulgence, is owing to the benefits they confer on the country by their industry. 



