446 



Proceedings of Societies. 



[Oct. 



lations and remarks of Sir John Malcolm ; and the sentiments of the Sufis and 

 Mehdivis, by those of the late Lieutenant Graham and Colonel Miles. The 

 account of the Akhlak-i-Nashu, by Lieutenant Fuissell, and the translation 

 of one of the discourses of Sadi by Mr. Ross, throw much light on the Musalman 

 Economics and Ethics, both theoretical and practical. What we chiefly want in 

 reference to the Muhammadan religion, is a fuller account, drawn from a compari- 

 son of all the existing authorities, of the state of Arabia at the time of its ori- 

 gin, and from which we could form a more enlightened judgment than we do, of those 

 great revolutions brought about by its author ; of the history of its religious influ- 

 ence, distinguished as much as possible from that of the military exploits and civil 

 arrangements of its followers, which have hitherto almost altogether engrossed at- 

 tention ; of the general arguments by which its doctors have urged its pretensions 

 in opposition to Christianity* ; of the Bohorasf and other curious sectaries ; and 



* Some interesting; information on this subject, is to be found in the Controversial 

 Tracts by the Rev. Henry Martyn, and his opponents in Persia, and the preface pre- 

 fixed to them by Professor Lee, and in tie last of the letters addressed to me, by H'aji* 

 Maiiammad H'ashim, and pxiblished in Bombay. As the discussion of the points at 

 issue, however, is an ancient one, it seems desirable that a collection should be made of 

 the hints respecting it which are to be found in the Musalman works of theology. 



+ To any person, whose leisure may permit inquiry into this body of Musalmans, the 

 following memorandum written by me on a visit to Surat in the beginning of last year, 

 may not be unacceptable. " The Bohoras of Surat are divided into three sects, respec- 

 tively denominated Ali, Suliman, and Daud. In the first of these, there are only five or 

 six families ; in the second, about fifty ; and in the third, about five thousand, with a 

 population of about twelve thousand. They have accounts of their tribe, one of which I 

 have seen in Arabic, which carry back their history about six or seven hundred years-. 

 They generally support themselves by the vending and manufacture of cloths, hardware,, 

 household furniture, &c. They profess to be quite distinct from the agricultural Bohoras, 

 who are to be found in the Baroch districts, and of whom a considerable number of fami- 

 lies hare now also settled in Surat. 



" The Bohoras are under the religious, and, to a great extent, the civil government of a 

 Mulla, whose head quarters were originally in Arabia. The Mullfi in Surat sits upon a 

 throne, and is highly respected. He is thrice saluted by every person when he is in 

 cathedra ; and his attendants give him all the attentions which the rmnces of the land 

 receive when they are in Darldr. He has deputies in all the towns in India where Bohora3 

 are to be found, and even in Maskat, Basora, Jadda, and Mokha. He has a very large 

 income, arising principally from donations at births, marriages, and deaths ; but from his 

 funds, the poor of the sect, whether resident in Surat or occasional visitors, are supplied. 

 He nominates his successor, having a principal regard to his talents, information, and 

 capacity to govern. 



" The Mulla, or Mulla ji as he is called by way of distinction, reads the Koran, and 

 addresses the people during five or six days of the Moharram, and one day during the 

 month of Ramaz&n, when his auditors are numerous. In the part of Surat principally 

 inhabited by Bohoras, there are many courts, in each of which there is a Mulla to conduct 

 worship early in the morning. The people, however, seem most to relish praying at the 

 tombs, or great mausoleums, which contain the sepulchres of some of the ancient Mullas 

 and their relatives. They actually, as we observed, kiss the chunam covering of the graves ! 



" In regard to marriage, it may be observed, that the number of wives permitted by 

 the Koran is allowed, as in the case of other sects of Musalmans. The follies of the 

 Hindus have found a place among them, in the manner in which marriages are contracted 

 and celebrated. Girls are espoused at the early age of five years, and without much 

 regard, on the part of their parents, to the age of those with whom they are united. 

 The processions, and feastings, are conducted much as among the- other classes of the 

 natives. 



