240 
the oriental annual. 
perform a pilgrimage for her sake ; all which arduous 
duties are, for the most part, religiously performed, 
without strife or jealousy. 
THE STORY OF NEEL KHOAR AND HER FIVE 
HUSBANDS 
is related by the Paharris (mountaineers) with a hope, 
perhaps, that it may have a tendency to check all ob- 
streperous conduct, on the part of the husbands, to- 
wards the common wife, or revengeful behaviour to one 
another. It is to this effect. 
A woman of great beauty, named Neel Khoar, 
having sufficient wit to select and retain her husbands 
with proper discretion and kindness, had already taken 
unto herself three, when she was courted by two 
youths, who were considered the handsomest men in 
the village. One was wealthy, and the other had only 
his beauty to recommend him. She accepted both, 
and preferred to the head of her household the youth 
who had so greatly increased her comforts, by bringing 
to her all the contents of his treasury. The other, 
who, even in beauty, could not vie with his rival, was 
made, for a while, the drudge of the family ; but being 
used to such menial offices, he performed cheerfully 
all that his mistress imposed upon him, and considered 
himself fortunate in thus obtaining an occasional smile 
and token of her approval. 
Whether it was the effect of this submissive be- 
