AND ITS FOUNDER. 599 



and h-e shall not be numbered among the just. But whosoever main- 

 tains constant enmity, against this race of darkness, may. God illuminate 

 his countenance. May every Afghd?i, and every person within the pale 

 of Islam, avoid the society of the children- of- darkness ; or may he be 

 accursed, and for ever remain in hell. 



T, Akh'un DeIrwe'zeh, have conlpdsed this nari-ative of fa6t3, agreeably 

 to the maxims of the holy prophets, for no other purpose but the benefit 

 of the ignorant ; and I have Written it \n the Afghan language, beca:use' 

 the greater part of the Pokhtans understand no other. This narrative has 

 also been' written at the greater length for this reason'; that if any of the 

 books and treatises, which the accursed' Ba'yezid left behind him, should 

 faM into the hands of a true believer, he may be induced to commit them to 

 the flames, and may be prevented from giving any credit to their doc- 

 trines, for though the style of the father of darkness is alluring, impres- 

 sive and attra61:ive, yet his tenets are pregnant with infidelity andimpiety." 



The narrative of Akhu'n Derwe'zeh terminates with the death of 

 Jela'l-ed-din, and thfe accession of Ah'da'd, as chief of the Roshemuns, 

 or as they were latterly denominated Jeldiia?is. This period, therefore, 

 gives the date of the composition of the Makhtan Afghdju, m which the 

 author takes every opportunity of alluding to the Roshejiiaii seCl, and 

 reprobating their tenets. 



The Makhztm Afghani is still extremely popular among the Afghans, 

 being written in quaint and rhyming periods, such as are termed 

 by the Persians, Makdfa and Masaja ; which, though void of quan- 

 tity and rhythm, are easily recolledled, and therefore the most strik- 

 ing passages arc soon converted into popular proverbs and adages. 



