608 Journal of a Tour through parts \_ No. 139. 



so without my telling him, the devil, of whom his daughter was possess- 

 ed, would kill her. On the burning brimstone being applied, she begged 

 to be released in a sensible tone of voice. This I would not allow, 

 until she spoke in the person of the possessing devil, and promised he 

 never would return. I explained that it was necessary to give a written 

 charm to prevent the return of the devil, and explained to the mother, 

 that I wished to see the girl in private. On her being brought, I 

 questioned her before the mother about the devil ; she replied, that as 

 long as the fakeer (myself) remained, he (the devil) would not possess 

 her ; but immediately on his (my) departure, he (the devil) would 

 destroy her. After this, the mother motioned her daughter to depart, 

 who refused, saying she would stay and wait on me. When we were 



_ , alone, the girl told me the truth ; which was, that she had 



Disclosure. 



a lover, and played these tricks that the match with the 



young man to whom she was engaged, might be broken off. I promised 

 to aid her, and told her to get her betrothed to visit me. In the morn- 

 ing the young man came and asked me to do all I could to cure 

 his intended of her fits. I explained that if she got cured, the devil 

 would attack him instead ; and proved it by my old apparatus of the 

 bowl of dirty water and the steel spring, which ejected his name as 

 the fated one. He was much frightened, and entreated me to point 

 out a remedy. This I did by assuring him, he could never marry the 

 " possessed," and live ; and that therefore, he had much better take the 

 other sister, who was also marriageable. This, after sometime was, 

 with my assistance, arranged. The successful lover, who had hitherto 

 remained in the back ground, now visited me, bringing with him some 

 cooked dishes. He afterwards accompanied me one stage as a guide, 

 and I left Ustarzye with the satisfaction of having caused the hap- 

 piness of two beings at no one's expense. 



The cultivation of the Masteekhels depends on spring water. Their 



habitations are partly below, and partly on a rising 

 JVlasteekhels. 



ground. Ihey have all separate forts, amounting to about 



twenty. The headman is Jemadar Misree. They amount to three thou- 

 sand fighting men, and are friends of the Shekhans and Mullakhels, 

 and enemies of Abdul Azeezkhels : and they are always armed night 



and day accordingly. This tribe and that of Shekhan 

 Hospitality. 



are noted throughout Teera for their hospitality. To 



