,38S ON THE ROSHENIAH SECT 



the fierce and untractable mountaineers of Pokhtankhd, scarcely con- 

 sidered themselves as affected, by the disasters of their countrymen, at a 

 distance. TheMoghuIs had occupied Kandahar, Cdbul, Ghazrii, and a few 

 ;more important posts, but had scarcely attempted to penetrate into 

 the deep recesses of the mountains. Mah'san Kha'n Gha'zi, an officer 

 of great merit, was, at this time, governor of Cdbul. He made a sud- 

 .den irruption into the district of Hashtnagar, and having seized the 

 person of Ba'yezid, conducted him to Cdbul, where he exhibited him 

 as a spectacle, to the populace, with his hair shaven, :on one side of the 

 .head, and left untouched on the other.* But tike irajXDstor had a genlusi 

 too fertile in expedients, to be easily disconcerted ; and by dint of artifice, 

 he not only extricated himself from this disgraceful situation, but had th^ 

 address to preserve his credit unimpaired, among his followers. He affected 

 a profound veneration for the Sheridt, or exterior ordinances of the law j 

 boldly denied the charges <Qf innovation ; affirmed that he had constantly 

 conformed to the ritual observances of religion ; and asserted that his opi*^ 

 Dions had been grossly misrepresented by the ignorant and malevolefit« 

 In the discussions which ensued, he defended himself with great vigour' 

 and ability, and extorted the admiration of all the learned. ** At last" 

 says Akhu N Derwe zeh, " some ungodly learned me^n interceded for 

 him, with Mah'san Kha'n, and he was set at liberty. They did not re-» 

 collect the saying of Abu Sheku'r Silmi, recorded ih the Tamhid. ** The 

 repentance of a punished infidel is of no effect, he shall certainly be 

 put to death." But, indeed, adds our author, if we attentively regard those 

 who pretend to be Ulema or learned, it will be obvious, that the greater 



* In some Afghan Mss. it is said, that he cut off his nose ; but this is probably occasi- 

 oned bj a fault of the transcriber, iu writing Smd, the tip. ef the itose, the trunk of aoj 



elephant for, scin i locks hair« 



