1867.] Notes on Sirdjuddaulah and the town of Murshidabad, 99 



their food in addition to their wages, and also, when the building was 

 finished, a present of a double shawl and a handkerchief. " At that 

 time you could see shawls in every lane of Murshidabad." 

 Regarding the Muharram festivities the author says : — 



1 



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" As in Murshidabad the Shi'ahs are, by the blessing of God, the 

 reigning sect, the mourning for Husain and the making of ta'ziahs 

 form a most important part of the divine worship. No house is 

 destitute of this spiritual blessing. If a man is poor, he will put 

 a few lamps in a separate part of his hut, called the place of vows, 

 and put up some flags. At a fixed time the women and children 

 of the house chaunt a few couplets of elegies and mourning hymns, 

 say a prayer and then perform the Shewan [i. e. they weep for 

 Husain and beat their heads and breasts]. 



" If a man is of the middle class, he joins with two or three of his 

 neighbours. They perform the ta'ziah in common. If a man is well 

 to do, the mourning ceremonies are performed on a grander scale, and 

 a few " reciters" are appointed. Very rich people go still further 

 and distribute sweetmeats, sherbat, coffee berries and roasted coriander- 

 seeds. So in every quarter of the town. Night and day people are 





