HERAT. 
225 
enced almost as a divinity, was also in the land of 
the living, —having survived, like myself, in a trance 
caused by the severity of his religious exercises, and 
the profundity of his meditations ; but that he had 
not yet been recalled to the presence of life. What 
I demand of you, O Raja, is a large party of your 
subjects to search for his retreat, which I am aware 
is within the limit of your dominions. I am dying 
with anxiety once more to embrace him, and to give 
to this darkened age a light of intelligence and sane- 
tity, which will obscure the sun at noon-day, and 
shed divine peace and happiness into the hearts of 
all degenerate mortals of the present race.” 
The righteous Raja was greatly agitated with the 
excess of his religious zeal, on hearing this extraordi- 
nary relation ; and, turning to his assembled chiefs, 
he said, — “ Truly I am greatly astounded at this 
wonderful disclosure ; but how fortunate, or rather 
how miraculously favoured, am I, that so holy a 
being should have rested in my territories ; and that 
I or my subjects should endeavour to render him a 
service ! Let us forthwith commence our search.” 
Hereupon the Raja set out with a large body of 
labourers ; and, attended by all his retinue of state, 
determined to continue the pursuit until the holy 
devotee was brought back to life ; doubtless antici- 
pating no end of spiritual promotion and advantage, 
in return for the good office he hoped to fulfil, as the 
deliverer of one so wonderfully influential with the 
