RELICS OF POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS. 



89 



cloth, towards gardens whose superb trees resembled pyramids of 

 li^ht. But though the sagest astrologers had been consulted, and 

 the happiest aspect of the stars observed, a fatal interruption 

 awaited them. At the entrance of a bazaar, richly illuminated 

 by Ibrahim's order, where crowds of all ranks were feasted with 

 sherbet and confectionary, among booths filled with musicians and 

 tumblers, a squalid woman suddenly sprung into the street, ex- 

 claiming — My son ! — give me my son !" — the procession stop- 

 ped in consternation, more caused by the pollution of an out- 

 cast's touch, than by her incredible claim ; and Ibrahim, startled 

 by the shrill tones of a voice he remembered too well, perceived 

 his discarded wife in the dress of a Pariah. He instantly con 

 ceived the extent of her revengeful purpose, but it was too late to 

 defeat her. Avaihng herself of his own stratagem, Bomanjee 

 uttered dismal lamentations, and tearing asunder the rich curtains 

 behind which the boy sat loaded with chains of pearl, attempted 

 to grasp him in her arms. The father of the infant bride, thun- 

 der-struck at this base blot on the bridegroom's origin, demanded 

 a pause in the nuptial rites, till the truth could be made manifest. 

 Seeing Ibrahim pale, trembling, and unable to answer, he snatch- 

 ed his adopted son from the palanquin, and advanced to throw 

 him into the embrace of his pretended mother, when Chandel-i, 

 leaping from her husband's, caught her son from his arms, repeat- 

 ing, " I am the outcast — he is mine." 



Notwithstanding the horror of the Hindoos at that execrated 

 name, the spectators were silenced by the sacred agony of a moth- 

 er, and by their eager curiosity to see the rival claims decided. 

 Ibrahim, entangled in his own devices, could not recant what he 

 had confessed to his brother counsellors ; he could not deny that 

 he had called Bomanjee an outcast, and that young Ahmed was 

 a stranger's son. All that seemed doubtful now was, to which of 

 these unhappy women the disputed boy should be assigned; and 

 the noblest Parsees agreed it should be left to his decision. Bo- 

 manjee's eyes glared with malignant joy ; for in the days of her 

 splendour she had often loaded him with fruits and garlands of 

 flowers ; but he had not forgotten the patient cares, the secret ca- 

 resses, and constant love of his true mother, as he sprang into her 

 arms. She hid her face on his ; and dropping the rich mantle 

 she had worn as Ibrahim's wife, stole one sorrowful glance at her 

 husband, and departed among the darkest trees. Ko one pre- 



