1838.] On the Customs and Superstitions of the people. 103 



to rob him of both, and told him of his intention. . The unfortunate 

 merchant, petitioned for three days' grace, when he promised to accede 

 to the tyrant's wishes in all things. Sief ul Mulk was a holy man, 

 and that night prayed fervently to God and the prophet to assist him 

 in his difficulties ; he had a dream, wherein he was desired to collect 

 together all the masons of the city of Alor, and cut a road through the 

 neighbouring hills, sufficiently large to allow of the passage of a boat, 

 by which means he should escape. The merchant reasoned within him- 

 self, that such could not possibly be the work of mortal hands, but since 

 it was the will of the most high, he did as he was directed, and in one 

 night the passage was completed; the river changed its course, and 

 flowing through the new channel, enabled Sief ul Mulk, to escape 

 with his wife and property, from the fangs of the tyrant Dilu' .Ha'i. 

 The river has ever since flowed in the new channel, and from its so 

 doing, may be dated the downfall of the city of Alor, which rapidly fell 

 into decay, and from being the capital city of the country, soon became 

 a mere ruin. It is related, that Seif Ul Mulk with his wife returned 

 from Mecca, and took up his residence near Sitaporu, where he died after 

 having two sons ; his tomb, and those of his sons, are well known as 

 places of pilgrimage. 



Destruction of Brdhmanabad. 

 After the river had left the city of Alor, Dilu' Ra'i took up his resi- 

 dence at Brdhmanabdd ; he had a brother named Chotah, who by the 

 blessing of God had early in life embraced Islamism, and knew the Koran 

 by heart ; his friends importuned him to marry, but he shewed a disincli- 

 nation to do so, till one of them tauntingly observed; " Oh, he does not 

 intend to marry a native of his own country, but will go to Mecca, and 

 take unto himself the daughter of some wealthy Arab. Now it so hap- 

 pened, that Chotah at that time contemplated a journey to the holy city ; 

 this speech, and the importunity of his friends urged him to the measure, 

 and he departed. During his residence at Mecca, as he was one day 

 walking in the street, he observed a woman standing at the door of a 

 house reading the koran aloud. Chotah stopped to listen to her, where- 

 upon she asked him, why he did so ? he said, " He also was anxious to 

 read the koran, and that he would consider himself her slave, if she 

 would instruct him. The woman replied, My teacher is the daughter 

 of such a person, if you will disguise yourself as a woman and accom- 

 pany me, I will introduce you to her." They went accordingly, and in 

 his disguise, Chotah attended daily upon his instructress, who in ad- 

 dition to other accomplishments, was also skilled in astrology. On one 

 occasion Chotah remarked to her, "You who are so well skilled in fore- 

 p 2 



