80 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
cipate retribution for such an offence. For the same 
reason it will be found, that powerful as is the per- 
sonal antipathy still existing between the two people, 
the Hindoo is constantly found paying the same 
tokens of fear and reverence to the Mahommedan 
saints as to the gods of his own mythology. Con- 
tinually we behold the half-starved pilgrim bestowing 
alms upon the Mussulman mendicant, for the sake 
of his prayers and blessings, and not unfrequently 
will the observant Hindoo pay a devout reverence on 
passing a Christian church or place of burial. Thus, 
while the Moslems have polluted, destroyed, and 
pillaged all the sacred edifices and treasures which 
they could wrest from the Hindoos, their own mosques 
and" sacerdotal accumulations have remained intact, 
except in moments of ungovernable excitement and 
exasperation. In answer to a question which I once 
put to a Hindoo upon this subject, I was told, that 
should a man of any caste forget his religious obli- 
gation to hold sacred, and undefiled, and uninjured 
all places of worship whatsoever, he would have in- 
curred the heavy displeasure of the gods, who would 
not accept his offerings of flowers, and would also 
have averted the favour of the spirits of his fore- 
fathers, who would reject his libations of holy water 
until full expiation should have been made for the 
offence. It is sufficient for the sincere Hindoo that 
these things are commanded in the Shastras ; it would 
be sacrilege even in a Brahmin to enquire the reason 
