346 Account of a visit to the Shrine of Sahhi Sarwar. [No. 4. 



the golden eye, and the man's determination to present it in person. 

 He therefore went and endeavoured to persuade him against under- 

 taking so long a journey, saying that there was no necessity what- 

 ever for so doing, for he would himself present the oblation, and 

 thus save him the trouble of going in person. He also urged as a 

 reason, that the sooner the offering was made, the greater would be 

 the merit, and therefore no time should be lost. A wag who was 

 present, on hearing this, asked the disciple, whether the Saint re- 

 ally had the power of restoring sight to the blind. He answered 

 that he had the power of granting every thing, and of fulfilling all 

 desires. " If such be the case, says the wag, how is it that you are 

 blind of an eye ? He should at least have restored your sight, who 

 are a servant of his threshold!" The attendant replied. " Do you 

 not know, Oh, sinful man ! that whatever the Saint grants to his 

 votaries he takes from his Majdwiran* and gives the latter some- 

 thing else in exchange ? At the time of my birth he took the 

 sight of my eye, and preserved it for the use of his votary, and de- 

 termined that the eye of gold should be mine ; therefore this man 

 who has received my living or human eye, should give me the eye 

 of gold, in order that thus right may obtain right." 



The most respectable and enlightened Muhammadans of the dis- 

 trict, such as Mullas and others, say that Sakhi Sarwar himself was 

 doubtless a very pious and holy man, as is proved by the mention 

 made respecting him in several books under the name of Suyed 

 Ahmed ; but they consider this Mela and its consequences in direct 

 opposition to the rules and tenets of the true Orthodox Faith ; and 

 probably it would be so considered, even by the Suyed himself, in 

 whose honor, and in whose name it is. held. 



The more southern districts of the Panjab are remarkable for the 

 number of Melds or Fairs. In the Miiltan district alone there can- 

 not be less than some scores in the course of a year. 



Miiltan, June 6th, 1855. 



* j>jls y0 Majdwir. — an attendant at a mosque, and devoutedly employed or 

 attached to it. 



