35G Notes on Kafiristdn. [No. 4. 



one of the elders, or chief men of the tribe arises, and like a 

 Xoival or Bard proceeds to harangue the audience on the deeds and 

 the prowess of their ancestors ; how many Muhammadans they had 

 killed iu their lifetime ; how many of their villages they had 

 plundered and destroyed ; and enjoins them to take example there- 

 from. If there should be any one amongst the assembly, distin- 

 guished for his actions against the enemies of their faith, they are 

 recounted and enlarged upon, as also the deeds of any other indivi- 

 duals the orator may recollect. 



When the Bard has finished his address, the people, with the 

 exception of those who have come forward to invade the country of 

 their enemies, disperse to their several homes, and the latter make 

 arrangements for their departure on the crusade.* 



Until they have matured their plans, and the expedition is ready 

 to depart, no individual of the party either eats or sleeps in his own 

 dwelling ; and in whosesoever house he may happen to be in the 

 evening, there he sleeps for the night. 



When the morning arrives for the warriors to set out, the people 

 of the village or villages, as the case may be, give them provisions 

 and wine for their journey ; and those requiring arms are supplied 

 with them. Some conspicuous hill or other place is then determined 

 on, at which a beacon-fire is to be lighted on their return, in order 

 that the villagers may come out to meet them. The necessary fuel 

 or combustible for this beacon is then got ready and piled up at the 

 appointed place ; and in case any one might be so malicious as to set 

 tire to the pile, or that it might accidentally take fire, all other per- 

 sons are strictly forbidden to approach the spot, under pain of severe 

 punishment. 



Having shared the food and wine given to them by the villagers, 

 each man places his portion in a small goat-skin bag, kept for this 

 purpose. Before leaving the halting-ground every man conceals 

 under a stone or in some other place, a day's provisions to serve him 



* " The Spartans never went to fight without first imploring the help of the 

 gods by public sacrifices and prayers ; and when that was done, they marched 

 against the enemy with perfect confidence and expectation of success, as being 

 assured of the divine protection, and, to make use of Plutarch's expression, as 

 if God were present with, and fought for them." Rollin : Ancient History, 

 Vol. I., pp. 230. 



