98 Extracts from the Persian History of Siudh, [Feb. 



mussocks upon the ground, and pass over it ; they did so, and proceeded 

 on their journey. In a short time, the other party arrived, having also 

 with them a Maneh Sang, who, looking at the water and the direction 

 the pursued had taken, told his companions that there was no use in 

 proceeding further, as the enemy had crossed the (water), they accord- 

 ingly gave up the pursuit. 



Tracking footsteps, and Omens. 



These people are wonderfully expert in the art of tracking footsteps ; 

 they can distinguish those of friends from strangers, old from young, 

 nor do they lose the track over any kind of ground. Some can also 

 divine from the noise of birds, particularly from that of the woodcock 

 or quail, both of which are birds of great omen. I was once with a 

 person who said to me, come along quickly, for, from the omens of 

 the birds I know that guests have arrived at my house, as also, that 

 a certain person is dead. It proved to be as he had predicted. 



Stories. 



No. I. In the time of Omar Sum rah, two extraordinary circum- 

 stances occurred, which I will relate: 1st, a beautiful girl named Ma'h- 

 ru'i, who resided at Talhdr, was betrothed by her family to a person 

 named Panu', but afterwards given in marriage to another. Panu' 

 enraged at what had occurred, determined upon revenge, and with this 

 intent, reported to the king Omar, that Mahru'i' was exceedingly 

 beautiful, and fit only to be an inmate of his harem. Omar on hear- 

 ing this, disguised himself, and mounting a swift camel proceeded in 

 search of the beauty; he found her, and being enraptured with her 

 charms, seized the first opportunity of carrying her away. Mahru'i's 

 virtue however was proof against all the king's entreaties, and after a 

 year had passed in vain endeavours to gratify his desires, he sent for 

 the husband, and resigned her again to his care. Notwithstanding 

 Omar's assurances to the contrary, the man's mind was infected with 

 doubts as to his wife's purity, nor did the taunts he underwent from his 

 tribe, on the subject of her residence with the king, diminish these sus- 

 picions; in short, he ill treated Mahru'i, and did not scruple openly 

 to curse Omar, as the cause of his misfortune and disgrace. These 

 circumstances, reaching the ear of the king, in a transport of rage he 

 headed a body of troops, determined to inflict summary punishment 

 upon the whole of that tribe ; but Mahru'i interceded to dissuade 

 him from so cruel and unjust a proceeding, pointing out, that the fault 

 was his own, in keeping a stranger's wife so long in his own house. 

 Whilst in order to satisfy her husband's doubts, and set his mind at rest, 

 she underwent the trial by fire, and coming out unscathed, proved to 



