<3 



1845.] An account of the Early Abdalees. 451 



property to the new ground. It so occurred that in one of these emigra- 

 tions, Zeerak who from old age had become quite decrepit, was left be- 

 hind.* 



The four brothers, according to custom, returned to the old encamp- 

 ment to see that nothing was forgotten. News was brought that Zee- 

 rak had been left behind, being unable to move. Barak first arrived 

 where his father was lying. Turning his horse's head towards him 

 without dismounting, he abused him, saying, " Are you not dead 

 yet, that I may be no longer troubled with you ?" 



Alako then saw him, and said, " Oh son of Adam, would that you were 

 dead, and ceased to trouble us !" And then passed on, as had Barak. 

 Mase next came, and, seeing his father, dismounted, and ordered one of 

 his people to mount him on a horse and conduct him to the new en- 

 campment. Zeerak pleaded that he was unable to sit on a horse. Mase 

 in a passion gave the old man a kick, saying to his attendant, " Let 

 the old brute lie there to be devoured by wild beasts and birds." 



Atlast came Popal, who immediately dismounted, and, taking Zeerak's 

 head on his lap, brushed the dirt off his venerable face, and shed tears, and 

 said, " Would to God that I had never been born, that I should live to see 

 you, my father, in this plight." He then lifted up his father with great 

 care, and, carrying him on his back, ordered his people to convey the 

 baggage on ahead, and he would follow with his sacred burden slowly 

 after. On arriving at the new encampment, he ordered suitable food to be 

 drest for his father. When the old man had eaten and was refreshed, 

 he expressed a wish to utter some prayers, to which he begged attention 

 should be paid. 



First he said to Barak : " Your fieldsf will be many, but may you find 

 no favour with God."| 



Regarding Alako he said : " May you never be free from cares and 

 troubles." 



To Mase he said : " May one of your houses fall as the other rises." 



To Popal he said : " Be your descendants always chiefs and never 

 servants, and may your foot never be out of the stirrup of wealth." 



* I witnessed something similar myself in the Ghiljye country in General Nott's ad- 

 vance on Ghuznee and Cabool. In a village that had been hurriedly deserted we 

 found nothing but a cripple. 



f " Bar," breadth (of domain.) 



I " Barkat," luck, good fortune. 



