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ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 THE BUGHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 
 
 VOL. III. 
 

ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 
 
 A TALE OF LOURTSTAN. 
 
 BY JAMES BAIL LIE FRASER, ESQ. 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 “ THE KUZZILBASH,” “ THE PERSIAN ADVENTURER,” &c. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. 
 1842. 
 
LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED BY SCHULZE AND CO., 13 , POLAND STREET. 
 
Vi 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE MYSTERIES OF ELWUND. 
 
 The mind like the body, when exhausted 
 by painful excitement, is apt to seek for com- 
 pensation in lengthened draughts of rest ; and 
 Hoossein, relieved for a time from the fever of 
 anxiety, which had oppressed him for so long, 
 yielded willingly to the influence of a slumber, 
 which lapped both soul and body in a most re- 
 freshing repose. Perhaps had he tried, it would 
 have puzzled him to account for that relief 
 from anxiety, which he assuredly was conscious 
 of. 
 
 The misfortunes he suffered from were nei- 
 ther lighter nor less real than before, nor were 
 the objects he sought to attain, one atom nearer 
 his grasp ; nay, it might be said that his disap- 
 pointment at Hamadan, had rendered his case 
 more desperate, his prospect of success more 
 distant than ever ; yet, however strange, the 
 fact was not the less certain that, distant as 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 B 
 
2 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 they were, and immured as he was in an ancient 
 tomb in the wildest region of Elwund, withstern, 
 unhumanized ascetics for his hosts, he felt his 
 bosom lighter than it had been at any moment 
 since his knowledge of the 'calamity which had 
 robbed him of every thing that was dearest to 
 him upon earth. 
 
 Doubtless, indeed, this happier frame of 
 mind might, in some degree, be ascribed to the 
 confidence he felt in the powerful aid of Allee 
 Neemroo ; but more, far more was surely at- 
 tributable to that delightful buoyancy of youth- 
 ful spirit, which will not brook to be for ever 
 depressed, but spurning at misfortune and 
 distress, springs upward with a happy elasti- 
 city, and throws aside its load ; a power, alas, 
 too enviable to be long retained, and too surely 
 lost with the progress and pressure of future 
 years ! 
 
 To this blessed attribute of the young and 
 vigorous mind, we say* it doubtless was owing 
 that Hoossein, when he awoke, which was not 
 till late on the following morning, felt his heart 
 beat high with renovated spirits, and heard a 
 voice within him that seemed to wdiisper hope. 
 Nor w^as this welcome feeling diminished, when 
 starting up and casting a glance around, his 
 eyes lighted on the person of his friend Allee, 
 seated quietly smoking at a little distance. 
 
 With a cry of gladness he sprung to his feet, 
 and ran to pour out his joy beside him ; a 
 
THE BUCHTI AREE ADVENTURER. 
 
 3 
 
 movement which was met by that sedate 
 cordiality, which was the greatest expression 
 of feeling, that worthy personage ever openly 
 indulged in. 
 
 “ I fear,’ 5 said he, “ you have suffered some 
 inconvenience ; but we cannot always choose 
 our agents ; we must work with such tools as 
 may be within our reach ; and, did you know 
 the extent of your late danger, you would re- 
 gard security as worth some little privation/ 5 
 Hoossein poured out a flood of acknowledg- 
 ments as warm as they were sincere ; but Allee 
 stopped him, with an assurance that no such 
 protestations were required. 
 
 “ I know your heart, 55 he said, Ci and take 
 your gratitude for granted; but in fact you 
 owe me nothing ; what I do for you is done at 
 the voice of a power which I willingly obey. 
 This is what you cannot understand just now, 
 and much besides must for the present re- 
 main unexplained. All I desire in return is 
 that you will continue to confide in me, bridle 
 your own impatience, and act by my counsel 
 till you have something better to guide you. 5 ’ 
 “ I will, Allee, I will ; by your own life, I 
 will,’ 5 replied Hoossein, with eagerness. “ Oh 
 how I have longed to see you and to hear you ! 
 two days have passed since we parted, and one of 
 them sadly enough. But hope has somehow 
 sprung up since then, and I trust you have 
 now come to tell me that I may credit its 
 
 b 2 
 
4 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO 
 
 whisperings. Have you any news ? anything 
 that concerns me? you know what I would 
 say. Speak, in the name of Allah !* 5 
 
 “ No doubt I have/’ replied Allee, “ though 
 little I fear to nurse your hopes. The Sheikh- 
 ul-Islam thoroughly roused, not more by your 
 appearance at Hamadan, than your disappear- 
 ance so immediately after his spies had found 
 you out, is putting all his power and means in 
 motion to discover you ; for he is quite aware 
 that the part he has played is no secret, 
 and you were among the victims especially 
 doomed, as one who, being most deeply in- 
 terested in the outrage, would probably become 
 his most active pursuer. This will prove to you 
 how much your safety depends upon conceal- 
 ment ; how certainly destruction would follow 
 imprudent exposure/ 5 
 
 It is true, there is no doubt of it, and I 
 will be prudent ; by your own head I will. 
 But of others, Allee, of the captives, heard 
 you nothing of them ?’ 5 
 
 “ 1 have/ 5 replied Allee, shaking his head ; 
 66 but nothing as yet to direct your search. Not 
 one has been brought to Hamadan, not even 
 the Zabit 5 s grand-daughter ; of that rest satis- 
 fied, and there is reason to believe that all 
 have crossed the mountains. But as yet my 
 information is imperfect, and you, as no good 
 is to he done, must just be content to remain 
 where you are. 5 ’ 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 
 
 5 
 
 ec Allah ! Allah ! this is dreadful ! this uncer- 
 tainty kills me ! Oh, friend, if you knew what 
 I suffer ! but what help is there ; can I do no- 
 thing 
 
 “ Nothing, but thank Allah for your own 
 safety, and that matters are no worse ! Your 
 mistress is not in the Meerza’s hands, and you 
 have said that those of any other man are pre- 
 ferable to his.’ 5 
 
 “ But can we be sure even of that ? How 
 can it be known, that she is not within his 
 harem ?" 
 
 “ For that you must take my word. How it 
 is known, is among the things which you 
 cannot comprehend ; but that I have some 
 power and some faithful agents you must see. 
 The day may come when all shall be made 
 clear, meantime, and for your own sake confide 
 in my circumspection, credit my words, and be 
 patient. And now, what think you of the 
 sanctuary provided for you, is it not a bust 
 worthy of notice ?” 
 
 u It is, in truth ! a wonderful place, by your 
 head ! but what shall I say ! When the heart 
 is heavy, the eye is dull !” 
 
 “ True, but let not your heart be heavy, In- 
 shallah ! all will yet be well ; only be patient 
 and trust to me. As for this place, it is 
 wonderful, indeed ; few except such as you see 
 here have ever visited it, and none who have 
 done so, ever forget what here has met their 
 
6 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 eyes. Without a guide, you might as well 
 seek on earth for the city of Jinnestan, though 
 being here, there is no cause why you should 
 not know where you are; but should you make 
 known to others what you see or hear, you 
 would be laughed at as a dreamer, or despised 
 as a teller of fables ; so for your own sake be 
 discreet. 
 
 66 You have, no doubt, heard of the famous 
 Chehel minar, 5 or f Tucht-e-Jemsheed* near 
 the city of Sheerauz ? That also is a place to 
 be seen and never forgotten, one of the 
 wonders of the world ; a work of the times of 
 old, when through the favour of the most high, 
 the Jins and the Deeves became servants to 
 certain of the sons of men. In truth, Jerxi- 
 sheed himself must have had somewhat of the 
 Jin in his nature, for how else could he have 
 conceived and executed such works, the very 
 ruins of which, after the lapse of thousands and 
 thousands of years, surpass the most perfect 
 structures of the most powerful monarchs of 
 these latter times ! 
 
 Well, Jemsheed, who built the city of 
 Istakher, in which this Chehel Minar was his 
 palace, founded also that of Hamadan, which 
 in his day was embellished by many magnifi- 
 cent buildings, all of which have been des- 
 troyed. But great and magnificent as was 
 the palace of Chehel Minar, as it met the eye 
 upon its noble platform, the learned assert 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 7 
 
 that what appeared above ground, was as. 
 nothing in extent to what exists beneath. 
 That halls without number, and suites of vast 
 and noble apartments, stretch underneath that 
 lofty terrace on which the remaining columns 
 yet stand, and penetrate far into the bowels 
 of the mountains behind it. It is said, that 
 were a man to enter the passages which lead 
 to these apartments, carrying with him five 
 hundred mauns of oil, the whole would be 
 consumed before he could traverse one half of 
 them. 
 
 u It is written, too, that from thence there 
 were subterraneous communications all the 
 way to Hamadan, and even to his more distant 
 but no less magnificent residence in Seistan ; 
 all of which are still in existence, though no 
 one in these times has been able to discover 
 their entrances. Treasures also of incredible 
 amount, and gems of the largest size and rarest 
 water, are said to be stored in these hidden 
 chambers ; but all are concealed from the view 
 of man, by the virtue of a talisman, which few 
 have seen, and none can decipher. 
 
 “ In like manner the great mountain of 
 Elwund is said to be perforated by subterra- 
 neous caverns, formed by the Jins, who were 
 subject to Soleimaun-ibn-Daood ; and in these 
 also lie hidden a portion of the treasures of 
 Jemsheed. Nor are these the only works of 
 the spirits of power who obeyed the son of 
 
8 
 
 ALLEE NEEMR00, 
 
 Daood. Within this range of mountains, in- 
 habited by the ancient tribes of Iraun, as well 
 as at the Tucht-e*Jemsheed, and various other 
 places, may be found structures like this which 
 now shelter us, hewn from the solid rock, and 
 which are said to be the sepulchres of the 
 monarchs of ancient times. Certain it is 
 that some of the stone receptacles found in 
 them contain the remains of golden ornaments, 
 and gems, and even bones, which probably 
 are the relics of the mighty men whose bodies 
 have been here deposited. 
 
 “ But be that as it may, there is much cause 
 to believe, that the huge portals of these struc- 
 tures gave also access to the vaults and 
 subterraneous palaces of Jemsheed; although 
 the entrance to the passages which led to them 
 was so ingeniously concealed as not to be 
 discoverable by those unacquainted with the 
 secret. Mysterious figures, and writings in 
 characters now unknown, are found sculptured 
 on them all ; and it is believed by many that 
 some are halls of assembly for Eblis, and the 
 fallen angels, while others are the abode of 
 Jins and Ghols, who are at enmity with the 
 children of Adam. 
 
 Among the mysteries in all ages attributed 
 to the mountain of Elwund, is the existence 
 somewhere within its range, of a tomb sup- 
 posed to contain the relics of certain 
 sons of Soleimaun-ibn-Daood. It is said to 
 
THE BUCRTIAREE ADVENTURER. 
 
 y 
 
 be guarded by spirits, bound to this duty by 
 a talisman, sealed with the seal of that wise 
 and powerful monarch. But although all, who 
 are acquainted with the mountain, are agreed 
 in the fact, that such a tomb does exist, no one 
 has ever been able to confirm the assertion 
 by the evidence of his senses. 
 
 “ Yet the place has long been known ; per 
 haps from the remotest times, though occa- 
 sionally lost sight of and again discovered. 
 The last occasion, on which we are aware of 
 its being made known to men, was a memo- 
 rable one. It was when the armies of the 
 fierce Hoolakoo overran this country, and 
 sought to exterminate the followers of the well 
 known Hussun Sebah a few of that perse- 
 cuted sect, escaping from the country of their 
 prince, took refuge in the mountains of Gerroos 
 and Elwund. 
 
 “ Among these was an aged man, whose 
 austere abstinence and unwearied perseverance 
 in prayer and abstract contemplation, had 
 gained him the reputation of a prophet among 
 his tribe, and who had accompanied the rest, 
 rather in accordance with their prayers, than 
 to escape a destruction which had no terrors 
 for him. Worn out with toil this holy man 
 had thrown his attenuated limbs upon a grassy 
 bank by the side of a little rill, from which he had 
 
 * The founder of that sect known by the name of the 
 Assassins ; the Sheikh-ul-jibel, or OldMan of the Mountain. 
 
 B 3 
 
10 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 just quenched his thirst, and had given way 
 to sleep, when a dream or vision came upon 
 his soul, and he saw before him a stern looking 
 personage, whom he recognised as the founder 
 of his sect, and who, addressing him in solemn 
 tones, said, 
 
 “ ‘ Zealous and faithful disciple, rise and 
 follow me/ 
 
 “ The saint obeyed, and after proceeding 
 for a while, was led by his revered guide to a 
 certain spot, where striking with his foot upon 
 a rock, it opened, displaying a passage which 
 led onwards. Into this the mysterious visitant 
 solemnly beckoned him to enter, and the vision 
 departed. 
 
 “ Rousing himself from sleep, the holy man 
 looked around him, and saw, to his amazement, 
 that the whole aspect of the place had changed. 
 He rose, and recognising some of the features 
 which had marked the landscape of his dream, 
 proceeded onwards till he found the very spot 
 where the figure had vanished, and soon, 
 guided no doubt by the same supernatural 
 agency, discovered the access which admitted 
 him to the very spot where you now are. 
 Since then the secret has been regularly 
 transmitted downwards by a succession of 
 ascetics, dervishes, or calunders, such as you 
 have now seen here ; and it still continues, as 
 it has always been, a refuge and a sanctuary ; 
 an abode of tranquillity and peace \ a sure and 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 11 
 
 undisturbed retreat for holy meditation, and 
 devout prayer. 
 
 “ This is unquestionably the place, by tradi- 
 tion regarded as the Ghabr-i-beni- Suleiman, 
 and supposed to exist in this mountain; but 
 whether it be in reality the sepulchre of any of 
 that monarch’s family, or a mausoleum of the 
 house of Jemsheed, those only will be enabled 
 to tell who shall decipher that mysterious 
 writing. Of its extent, however, you might 
 easily satisfy yourself, were it not for the 
 danger of being lost in the innumerable wind- 
 ings of caverns that stretch into the mountain, 
 an accident that has happened to more than one 
 of the brethren who have tried the enterprise.’* 
 
 “ A wonderful tale, indeed !*’ said Hoossein, 
 when his friend had left off speaking, feeling in- 
 terested in spite of himself, and beguiled for 
 awhile of his anxiety, “ and have none of these 
 wonderful treasures you spoke of been ever dis- 
 covered?’* 
 
 “ No ; no record or tradition exists of any 
 such discovery. But there is a talisman not 
 far from hence, which is said to cover or to 
 guard vast wealth.” 
 
 66 Indeed ! and is this talisman visible to 
 mortal eyes ?*’ 
 
 “ Perfectly visible ; it consists of two 
 tablets cut in the solid rock, in character re- 
 sembling those you see here, doubtless belong- 
 ing to the same times, and connected with the 
 
12 
 
 ALLEE NEEMR00, 
 
 rest of these great and ancient works. Whether 
 there be magic or witchcraft in the business or 
 not, Allah alone can say ! but this I can de- 
 clare, that whatever Jins or Demons may have 
 dwelt here in times of old, for many ages past 
 it has given shelter to some of the worthies of 
 the descendants of Adam. Here the pious and 
 the enlightened pursue their holy studies, men, 
 whose progress in divine knowledge has well 
 rewarded the wasting of their earthly frames. 
 This floor has been the resting place of many 
 a gifted dervish. These walls have witnessed 
 some of the most remarkable austerities and 
 severest discipline ever endured by adept pant- 
 ing for absorption in the divine essence ! 
 
 u You gaze at me, and wonder, no doubt, 
 that he, whom you have known but as Allee 
 Neemroo, the horse-dealer, should be found 
 the companion of dervishes and fakeers ; this 
 also is of the things which cannot now be ex- 
 plained, and which demand your patience. 
 In the meantime I must again leave you ; nay, 
 be satisfied, it must be so ; for your own ser- 
 vice it must. Here you must remain, but not 
 immured within this darksome vault ; you can 
 breathe the fresh air beyond the portal in the 
 chasm by which you reached it ; but seek not 
 to move beyond it ; the attempt would be vain, 
 and might prove dangerous ; so avoid it as you 
 would forward the object of your wishes/’ 
 
 It were useless to describe the condition of 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 13 
 
 Hoossein’s mind after the departure of his 
 friend. With Ailee departed also all the buoy- 
 ancy of spirits, and the fresh ardor of hope in 
 which, in the morning, he had exulted ; so true 
 is it that the human mind, unsustained by 
 some powerful and enduring staff of confidence, 
 is the sport of every passing incident that seems 
 to affect the immediate object of its desire, as 
 the clear lake reflects every gleam of sunshine 
 and passing cloud that changes the face of the 
 sky above it. And Hoossein, though he did 
 confide in his friend, was far too sensitive to 
 resist the disheartening influence of a separa- 
 tion from him, to whom he looked for comfort 
 and support. 
 
 In vain did he attempt to bridle his uneasi- 
 ness, to control the anxious inquietude, that 
 again devoured him. He sought the open air 
 and met no opposition ; though in pass- 
 ing through the entrance chamber, he per- 
 ceived there, fixed as before, in the self-same 
 attitude, with marble features half up-turned, 
 and half glazed eye, motionless in its rigid lids, 
 the ghastly figure which had startled him at 
 first, the aspirant for that final reward of 
 Sooffeeism — entire absorption in the divinity. 
 
 The smiling face of heaven, small as was 
 the portion that could be discerned from the 
 depth of the chasm, together with the free and 
 bracing air, revived his spirits and somewhat 
 calmed his mind. He tried to reason himself 
 into tranquillity; but his judgment refused to 
 
14 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 receive the arguments with which he sought to 
 allay'his apprehension. He could not but feel, 
 that while he was thus in point of fact a pri- 
 soner, all that was dearest to him in life might 
 be exposed to the most frightful doom. 
 
 From such reflections no comfort was to be 
 gathered; so after having brooded over them, 
 till his mind became fevered with excitement, 
 he sought relief in examining the scene, into 
 which he had been so strangely thrown. 
 
 It was impressive enough to arrest the most 
 indifferent. It has been mentioned, that the 
 chasm was walled with solid rock, and Hoos- 
 sein saw that in most places it beetled inwards, 
 as if threatening the little hollow at its feet, so 
 that the opening above was even smaller than 
 the space below. Nor had these threats been 
 altogether empty, for that little space was in- 
 cumbered by the fragments, which time had 
 rent from the impending cliffs. 
 
 The chasm in length scarcely extended two 
 hundred paces, and the rocks reared themselves 
 so high, and so nearly closed themselves above 
 it, that one might have imagined, that an ac- 
 tive goat could bound across the gap, the lips 
 of which were rough with thorny shrubs. But 
 the bones of many animals, which in strag- 
 gling among the rocks had fallen into the 
 yawning abyss, gave evidence that no such feat 
 could be attempted, even by them, with im- 
 punity. 
 
 Looking from one end, the eye gazing up- 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 
 
 J 5 
 
 wards could detect a craggy snow-streaked 
 peak, soaring high into the clouds; and judg- 
 ing from the scenery he had passed through, on 
 the morning of his arrival at the place, Hoossein 
 became convinced, that persons ignorant of its 
 existence might easily pass it by as only a 
 dangerous rift in the rocky crest of the moun- 
 tain, caused by the winter torrents, w r hich 
 might find through it a passage to the hidden 
 reservoirs in its bowels. 
 
 Hoossein, more than once, traversed from 
 end to end the area of this secluded glen, 
 examining every turn and angle of the rock, 
 with curious eye ; but to discover the place by 
 which he had entered defied his penetration. The 
 rill, indeed, which oozed from numerous little 
 springs, on either side, made its w r ay among 
 fragments heaped on one another, at its lower 
 extremity, until lost to sight ; but no hollow 
 appeared, by which even a fox could have 
 escaped. 
 
 Wondering, and at fault, he returned to the 
 point, w r here in its secluded angle rose the dark 
 grey portal of impenetrable rock, tinted by a 
 few 7 lichens, the growth of ages, w r hich lent a 
 w T arm tinge to the cold stone ; and again his 
 eye rested on the symbolic figures and mys- 
 terious inscriptions, indelibly impressed on their 
 respective tablets ; and he gazed and mused, 
 until strange fancies mounted to his brain, and 
 the tales he had heard of magic and necro- 
 
16 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 mancy, and of these spirits which the adepts 
 in these dark sciences had rendered subject to 
 their will, recurred to his memory, and he 
 could not help thinking, that in spite of what 
 his friend, Allee Neemroo, had asserted, the 
 very cavern where he now stood was a spot in 
 every way well calculated for such pursuits, 
 and that the wild grotesque enthusiasts, who 
 made it their retreat, might well be regarded as 
 seekers after such forbidden power. 
 
 Nor could he refrain from starting, as his eye 
 fell on one of those very mystics, on whom his 
 thoughts had just been fixed, issuing from the 
 dark aperture ; and the question, whether he 
 himself might not now be a victim of some 
 bewildering spell, thrilled through his brain 
 with startling suddenness. Perplexed in mind, 
 and sick at heart, he once more entered the 
 portal, and sought a temporary relief from the 
 misery of his own thoughts, in the homely 
 conversation of his foster-brother and com- 
 rade. 
 
 The day at length wore on, as days, how- 
 ever dull and anxious, will do. Sleep, the 
 friend of the wretched, beguiled much of the 
 ensuing night ; but the dawn brought no relief. 
 “ Joy came 55 not 66 in the morning/* and the 
 restless inquietude of the long, long succeeding 
 day, was such, that Hoossein thought the 
 worst of certainty could have no greater torture 
 in store. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 17 
 
 He woke from a troubled slumber, with the 
 instinctive consciousness of some one near, and 
 looking upwards, was greeted by the face of 
 Allee Neemroo, who was bending over his 
 couch. Uncertain, whether he w r as not still 
 under the influence of sleep, he gazed around 
 with a vague stare. The light, that streamed 
 through the rocky walls, informed him, 
 that morning had already broken upon the 
 world, and Hoossein rousing himself, gave 
 full scope to his delight at again seeing his 
 friend. 
 
 “You have news for me, Allee/’ said he, 
 looking earnestly at the horse-dealer. “ I see 
 it in your expression. Good or bad, in the 
 name of Allah, tell it to me !” 
 
 “ I have news, Hoossein, and whether for 
 good or for ill, you shall hear all. I told 
 you before, and I now confirm it, that the 
 Zabit^s grand-child is not in the Sheikh-ul- 
 Islam’s harem, nor in Hamadan. He has been 
 out-witted at his own game, by a clumsy 
 robber ; a fellow who beyond the taking his 
 plunder, and making the best of it, has scarce- 
 ly tact to grope his own way in the dark. By 
 the bargain between them, Roostum Beg was 
 to have for his share of the prey all the proper- 
 ty, or captives, he could secure in Ameenabad, 
 save and except the Hadjee’s grandchild, and 
 yourself, Aga Hoossein ; for both of whose 
 persons, the Sheikh-ul-Islam appears to have 
 
18 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 conceived a strong attachment. These two 
 accordingly, he stipulated, should be delivered 
 up to him ; and in return, so highly did he value 
 the prize, he promised to protect him against 
 the anger of Caussim Khan, of Gilpaigaun, 
 who, it was presumed, might take offence at 
 this invasion of his dependants ; and he 
 further, it appears, provoked the man's cupi- 
 dity, by the proffer of a considerable sum in 
 gold. 
 
 “ But this, it appears, was not the first of his 
 dealings of the sort between the worthy priest 
 and the Buchtiaree robber ; so that the latter 
 knew his man, and having, on the other hand, 
 as he conceived, the means of pacifying Caussim 
 Khan, while on the other, he placed no great 
 reliance on the Sheikh-ul- 1 slants promises, con- 
 veyed to him as they were only by a sugar- 
 tongued messenger, he determined, while ex- 
 ecuting the priest’s behests, to retain in his 
 hands the means of securing the fulfilment of 
 the other’s engagement, and, perhaps, of making 
 him pay down handsomely for old scores. 
 
 44 Thus, when the old man’s grand-child was 
 seized by the Meerza’s Gholaums, who bore her 
 off at once, they were met, as they rode in- 
 cumbered by booty, on their way down the 
 glen, by Roostum Beg with a strong party, who 
 soon relieved them of their burthen, and sent 
 them to their master, with a message, that the 
 girl was merely retained as a pledge for the per- 
 
THE BUCHTI AREE ADVENTURER. 19 
 
 formance of his promises both past and current, 
 and that whether she were ransomed or not, he 
 little cared, as she would fetch, at least, as high a 
 price from the Turkish Pashah at Baghdad. 
 
 “ You may imagine the rage of Sheikh-ul- 
 Islam on receiving this message. It was be- 
 yond all control ; and he would have made an 
 example of the baffled Gholaums, had not a 
 conduct so insane been checked by the repre- 
 sentations of one of his ministers, Aga Jeewah, 
 who had escaped, with difficulty, the fate Gf his 
 companions, from your hands, Hoossein, at the 
 village. He saw the danger his master was 
 running into, and had the address to check his 
 extravagance by stimulating him to seek re- 
 venge upon Roostum Beg himself. 
 
 66 This double-dyed ruffian, for such, in truth, 
 he is, had, it appears, divided the spoil, captives 
 and all, among his followers, retaining to him- 
 self, the choicest of every thing ; and there is no 
 doubt that many of them, if not all, have been 
 sent to Kerman shah, in hopes of being sold to the 
 Turks; but whether the Hadjee’s grand-child 
 be among the number so sent, has not been 
 discovered by my emissaries. Such, my friend, 
 is the amount of my tidings ; whether you 
 hold it to contain a greater share of good or of 
 evil, it is truth, and may be depended on.” 
 
 “ Good, good by your soul, Allee ; I owe 
 you the Mujdeh !” said Hoossein, eagerly; “to 
 hear that that miscreant priest has been baffled 
 
20 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 is life to me. I could hug the brute of a robber 
 for having thwarted his villanous designs. Oh 
 heaven ! it never could be Allah’s will that so 
 bright and innocent a lamb as my Ausieh 
 should fall into that wolfs' jaws ; that her fair 
 head should be defiled with the dust of such 
 misery ! What must now be done is clear ; to 
 Kermanshah I must go without delay. Ausieh 
 may be there already. Oh misery ! may she 
 not already have been sold ; sold like a 
 common slave to some villanous Osmanlee ! 
 But God forbid ! God forbid ! Let me not 
 fancy it ; I should go mad ! At all events I 
 may hear of her. I may find some of our un- 
 fortunate Ryots, and contrive means for restor- 
 ing them to their families ; yes, by your own 
 soul, Allee, I must go at once to Kermanshah ! 5 ’ 
 
 “ Softly youth, softly/’ replied Allee calmly ; 
 “ let us reflect. Your wish is to do good not 
 evil ; to provide for the security of your friends, 
 not to ruin them. Rashness may do the last, but 
 will never effect the first. Listen, and try to 
 be prudent ; without prudence and self-posses- 
 sion you will ruin yourself and fail of aiding 
 those you so greatly desire to relieve. 
 
 66 The captives of Ameenabad must be ac- 
 companied by some, at least, of their captors, 
 agents for the rest to dispose of the general 
 booty. Were you to be discovered by these, 
 at Kermanshah, and how great the chance of 
 your being so ! what, think you, would be the 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 
 
 21 
 
 value of your life ? You a victim on whose head 
 a price has been set by the Sheikh-ul-Islam of 
 Hamadan ! And, then, think you not that this 
 disappointed priest will have his own spies and 
 emissaries swarming there, and on all the border, 
 knowing, as he must do, that thither will the 
 captives be brought, and with them the fair 
 cause of all this mischief ? Would these long 
 fail of recognising Hoossein of Ameenabad ? 
 How then should he escape destruction ? 
 Now where would be the profit of such a re- 
 sult ? It would promote the designs of the 
 wicked, and leave the innocent without a pro- 
 tector, at his mercy. It is a consummation, 
 therefore, to be avoided/’ 
 
 “ Allah ! Allah ! There is truth and reason 
 in what you say. I feel it all, by your soul I 
 do. But what then is to be done ? If I go 
 not thither, who is there to help these wretched 
 people ? I cannot leave them to be sold like 
 beasts without an effort to assist them. I 
 cannot abandon her , Allee.” 
 
 “ But the question here is not so much, who 
 is there to aid them if you should hang back ; 
 as could you aid them effectually by such dan- 
 gerous self-exposure at present ; and whether 
 by holding back for a time you may not after- 
 wards interfere with far more effect than you 
 could just now, even were you to escape the 
 risks you must run in doing so? ,J? 
 
 “ Allah alone can tell, Allee ; for, truth to say, 
 
22 
 
 AJiLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 I am bewildered, perplexed, half mad ; I ac- 
 knowledge the justice of all you state, but to 
 wait in this uncertainty, with the fear that all 
 may be lost by delay, tortured with anxiety and 
 fear, by your own soul, it 'is worse than death. 
 This suspense is torture. Two days and nights 
 like the last would kill me; not the joys of 
 paradise would bribe me to endure them. To 
 think she may be actually in Kermanshah ; 
 nay, purchased and carried off to a Turkish 
 harem ! By the head of my father, I could not 
 bear it!” 
 
 In fact, the young man’s agitation was so 
 great, and the effect of the distress he had 
 already suffered had told so strikingly upon his 
 aspect, that his friend ceased his remonstrances, 
 and permitted his passion to have free course 
 for a while, ere he addressed him again. 
 
 66 Well,” said he at last, u if such be the case, 
 let it so rest. What has been written we in 
 vain would change. To Kermanshah you shall 
 go, since go you will, but tempting danger is 
 folly, and prudence and precaution may lessen 
 hazard, while they can never injure a good 
 cause. You shall proceed thither in a disguise 
 which will blind every eye, and enable you, 
 unless you betray yourself, to see every thing 
 you want to see without becoming an object of 
 suspicion or inquiry to others. As to this 
 enemy, this priest, formidable as he may be, 
 and unable as you alone would be to cope 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 23 
 
 with him, there is a power which holds even 
 him under control, and which will protect you 
 effectually, unless your own imprudence should 
 give him an advantage.” 
 
 The horse-dealer paused, and for some mo- 
 ments seemed to retire into himself ; and when 
 he resumed the discourse, it was in a tone so 
 impressive, that Hoossein, in some surprise, 
 regarded him with redoubled interest. 
 
 “ Listen, young man,” said he, “ and forget 
 not what I now tell you. You have seen, that, 
 poor and insignificant as I may appear, I do, in 
 fact, possess a certain power, be its nature 
 what it may, the effects of which you have 
 already experienced. I now tell you that this 
 power extends in no inconsiderable degree over 
 your enemy the Sheikh-ul-Xslam himself ; but 
 its influence is affected by circumstances of 
 time and place, so that it cannot at all times 
 be conveniently put in force. The priest too is 
 a deep and an adroit dissembler, so that, w r hile 
 feigning submission and obedience to a control 
 which he dares not openly set at defiance, he 
 would stop neither at falsehood nor treachery, 
 however dark, to gratify revenge or lust. Thus, 
 though able to afford you protection while your 
 conduct is guided by prudence, a single act of 
 inconsiderate exposure might cripple the power 
 I possess, and doom you to destruction in spite 
 of every effort I might make to save you. Re- 
 flect, therefore, before you decide. If then 
 
24 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 you are resolved to go, and tempt your fate, 
 still listen to my counsel, and be ruled by my 
 directions. You will find they will add both to 
 your safety and efficiency/’ 
 
 Hoossein with eagernejss expressed his ac- 
 knowledgments for his friend’s extraordinary 
 zeal and kindness, and, declaring his decided 
 resolution to be guided by his counsel, the 
 conversation terminated for the time. 
 
 The evening of that same day saw Hoossein 
 attired as a young fakeer, his body scantily 
 covered with the ragged mantle, his waist bound 
 round by a long rope of goats’ hair ; his feet 
 shod with sandals, his head swathed in a mass 
 of twisted hair ; his limbs, face, and body, 
 smeared with ashes, and bearing the knotted 
 iron-bound club and the usual outfit of a reli- 
 gious wanderer. 
 
 u You will now keep in mind my words, and 
 those points I have insisted on,” said Allee. 
 “ Trust much to the steady guide I send with 
 you. Practice self-control, and live if as you 
 really were a dervish. No man will be the 
 worse for such discipline ; and by these means 
 you will, at all events, see whatever is to be 
 seen and learn what can be learned, without 
 risk. When that shall have been done, some- 
 thing more may be tried : at present, by work- 
 ing in the dark, we might do more evil than 
 good.” 
 
 u Wullah Billah !” growled Caussim, who, 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 25 
 
 in no placid humour, followed his disguised 
 master. “ Wullah Billah ! I cannot understand 
 this. What have I done that dirt should be 
 thrown on me this day? Why should I be 
 thrust out of a business, which is mine as well 
 as his ? Was not I the first man who volun- 
 teered to join him ?” 
 
 “ That you were, Azeez-e-mun ; that you 
 were/’ replied Hoossein ; “ and when I forget 
 that, may Allah forget me ! But surely you 
 must comprehend the object of this proceed- 
 ing ? Many a bush will hide one bird, which 
 would give no shelter to two ; and there are mat- 
 ters which one man may hope to effect, but which 
 would be spoilt by the interference of another. 
 A needle’s eye will receive but one thread ; a 
 spear’s point will penetrate where a club would 
 fail. All now depends upon secrecy and caution. 
 Were we to be discovered, not only we, but all 
 who look to us with hope, would be lost. 5 ’ 
 
 u Ay, ay, you have preached enough to 
 me, but you have not satisfied me,” responded 
 Caussim, in the same disconsolate tone, “ by 
 your head, you have not. The thread may 
 break ; the club may knock down, if it cannot 
 pierce ; and as for discovery, in the name of 
 Imaum Hoossein, why should not I make as 
 good a dervish as you?” 
 
 Hoossein could not repress a smile, in which 
 the dark eye of Allee seemed to sympathize, as 
 he said. 
 
 4 * . hi. 
 
 c 
 
26 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROQ, 
 
 “ Hah, Barikillah ! and so you might ; and 
 so you shall, perhaps, old comrade, when the 
 proper time comes. But this is Hoossein’s 
 turn ; let us try how he succeeds first.” 
 
 6( Caussim,” said the ' young man, “ what 
 need is there of many words ? Well do you 
 know my confidence in you. God knows it is 
 well deserved on your part ! Hast thou not 
 saved my life before now ? — and do I not know 
 that at this moment it is love for me, and a 
 desire to be near and protect me, that prompt 
 thee to persevere in this request, more even 
 than a sense of duty : but, by that love and 
 zeal thou bearest me, I entreat thee now to 
 say no more. This work is mine ; hinder me 
 not from performing it. Remain with our 
 good friend here. Be assured we shall not re- 
 main separated long ; and when we meet again 
 there will be enough for both of us to do.” 
 
 “ Well, well, no more about it,” grumbled 
 Caussin?, evidently in great distress. “ Go thy 
 ways ; but should anything befal thee, Hoos- 
 sein Kerbelai, by the head of the prophet, and 
 by thy own death, I, Caussim, am still true to 
 you ; and others shall hear of it, and feel that 
 I am so.” 
 
 “ And now, Hoossein Kerbelai,” said Allee, 
 “ I too say go thy ways. I bid thee good 
 speed. May Allah have you in his holy keep- 
 ing ! Remember my injunctions ; confide in 
 him I have told thee of, Allee Reza Attar; and* 
 
 ) 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 27 
 
 see this talisman. Shouldst thou fall into dif- 
 ficulty, and require the aid of any dervish or 
 mendicant thou mayest meet, there is no true 
 brother who would not recognise and respect 
 the token ; and should any circumstance pre- 
 vent you from producing it, you will com- 
 mand attention by using the words. Be Hale - 
 e-Koodrut ul Kudeer 
 
 Hoossein received the talisman, which was 
 merely a bit of parchment or skin bearing a 
 few characters, forming a cipher, which he 
 could make nothing of ; so he placed it with 
 care in a secret pocket, among his rags ; and 
 his guide, whose name he discovered to be 
 Noor Shah, having now made his appearance, 
 they rose to depart. Caussim could not restrain 
 his distress at this parting : he threw himself 
 upon the ground, embraced his master’s knees, 
 and, lifting up his voice, wept aloud. Nor was 
 Hoossein less sincerely, though less clamorously 
 affected ; but time pressed, and Allee called on 
 him to depart. 
 
 u You must once more submit to the rules 
 of the place, which affect every one but those 
 who have attained a certain high degree in the 
 order to wdiich it belongs ; so, that will do, 
 and now, once more, Khodah Hafiz /’* 
 
28 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE GUIDE AND THE DRUGGIST. 
 
 Blindfolded once more, Hoossein, led by 
 his guide, the same fakeer who had conducted 
 him into the place, retraced the mysterious 
 pathway, and in due time found himself be- 
 yond the precincts of his late asylum, and 
 descending the ravine which he remembered on 
 his way thither. After awhile, however, turn- 
 ing to the right, they took another track which 
 led them across the shoulder of a lofty moun- 
 tain, from whence, had it been daylight, they 
 might have looked down upon the plain of Seye- 
 dabad and Kengaver. Holding on their way, 
 by the third hour after daylight, they reached a 
 small village, where their wants were readily 
 supplied, and where they remained until 
 evening. 
 
 The taciturnity of the guide, so invincible 
 hitherto, had somewhat relaxed since quitting 
 the vicinity of the cabalistic Elwund ; and 
 whether released by special permission from 
 the strict interdict, under which to all appearance 
 he had at first laboured, or whether prolonged 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 29 
 
 companionship had somewhat broken down 
 restraint, he now replied to the questions of 
 Hoossein, and conversed in terse contention, 
 and phrase indeed, but in terms that proved 
 him to possess much shrewd remark, and 
 sound worldly experience under the ascetic 
 guise he had assumed. 
 
 When they reached Kengawer, which was 
 not until near dawn, the fakeer led the way to 
 a hovel without the walls, where, removing a 
 heap of stones, a hole was discovered, and they 
 entered by it into a room of moderate size, in 
 which were leaves and heaps of dry grass, af- 
 fording no uncomfortable resting place to the 
 wearied travellers. Having satisfied the cravings 
 of their hunger with the remains of provision 
 in their wallets, and washed them down with 
 the water of a rill near at hand, they stretched 
 themselves to sleep, and did not awaken till 
 the sun was some hours high in heaven. 
 
 When the light streamed through the crevices 
 of their den, Hoossein observed that a portion 
 of its wall consisted of immense blocks of stone, 
 on which there were inscriptions, though differ- 
 ing in appearance from those of the sepulchre 
 in Elwund. 
 
 “ Ay/ 5 replied the dervish to his inquiry 
 regarding them, “ these stones are no doubt 
 connected with the ruins in the town up yonder, 
 which the Ryots and shopkeepers will tell you 
 are the work of the Jins, like the Chehel Minar 
 
30 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 and many others. As for this place, we may 
 thank the Jins, who keep it clear for those who 
 fear them not. Their name is an admirable 
 talisman to scare fools away.” 
 
 “ And what then are the ruins above ?” 
 
 “ How can I tell the works of the Ghelrs 
 or the Yunanees ?* Some say they are relics 
 of the days of Iskender Roomee ;t but others 
 assert, that they belong to a temple built to 
 Eblis, by Jemsheed.” 
 
 u And are there many of these ruins here- 
 about ?” 
 
 66 No ; but you will see many of the works 
 of Ferhaud, the fool who threw himself from 
 the Bessittoon rock, because an old woman told 
 him a lie about his mistress. You have heard 
 of Khooroo Purveez, and his mistress Shireen ?” 
 ^ Ay, who has not? But I should like to see 
 the spot where the fond lover died. I think I 
 could die in the same manner, were I also assured 
 that my mistress was no more.” 
 
 “ Good! You will have an opportunity to- 
 morrow; for we pass the very spot. It would 
 be but the fool following the madman,” re- 
 sponded the dervish, with an unearthly grin. 
 “ The fakeers are wiser. The object of our 
 love is Allah alone. The enjoyment we pant 
 for is re-union with his essence ; our only 
 ecstacy proceeds from contemplation of his in- 
 effable perfections. But come. This is not 
 
 * Greeks, 
 
 t Alexander the Great. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 
 
 31 
 
 the time for mortifications and fasting. Seek 
 we the village. No doubt some pious soul, 
 for Allans sake, will give us food.” - 
 
 Quitting the ruin, which Hoossein now dis- 
 covered to be nothing more externally than a 
 heap of stones and sun burned bricks, lying at 
 the foot of a little rising ground, beneath the ter- 
 race on which stands the town, the true and false 
 Calunder entered the gate, and passed through the 
 straggling bazaar to a baker’s shop, which stood 
 in a retired corner. The well known sounds 
 of Hoo ! Hoo ! intonated from the lungs of the 
 first, soon attracted the attention of the shop- 
 keepers, and among them of the baker, a quiet 
 elderly little man, who while he tendered them 
 the salutation of peace, exchanged a glance 
 with the guide, not unremarked by Hoossein, 
 and went on serving his customers with long 
 flaps of bread steaming hot from his oven. 
 
 As soon as the shop was empty, the baker 
 calling a boy to take his place, retired into an 
 inner room, followed by the two travellers. 
 Lifting a quilted curtain, he showed them into 
 a still more snug and comfortable apartment, 
 where seating them on felt carpets, and calling 
 for a calleeoon, he began to converse with the 
 guide, in terms which were unintelligible to 
 Hoossein. That they had some reference to 
 himself, however, he easily discovered ; as his 
 companion, dropping the mystical tongue, ob- 
 served that he was a young brother, at present 
 
32 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 ■under probation, and proceeding towards Bagh- 
 dad, where he might possibly pass a year or 
 two, with the sages of the colleges there. The 
 baker nodded intelligence and acquiescence; 
 the pipes were brought, and a substantial meal 
 was ordered, to which both of the travellers 
 did ample honour. 
 
 The conversation was then resumed in the 
 same mystic language, which, though Hoossein 
 could not follow, he discovered that it applied to 
 certain hostile measures dreaded on the part 
 of some influential person. It was plain from 
 this, that the baker was an adept : but after 
 an hour thus passed, he left the travellers to 
 themselves, who prepared for further toil, by 
 the enjoyment of a few more hours of repose. 
 
 In the evening their march was recommenced, 
 and continued to the village of Saheneh, where 
 they rested a couple of hours in an open shed, 
 making a meal on the remains of their provi- 
 sion from the baker’s hospitality, and they again 
 pursued their way, until the morning sun rose 
 full upon the noble mountain of Bessittoon. 
 
 “ See/’ said the dervish, “ the work of Fer- 
 haud. Behold the labours of a mortal, visible 
 on that mountain, even at this distance ! Yet 
 compare these, among the mightiest efforts of 
 man, with the works of the Almighty. See 
 how these craggy mountains pour contempt 
 upon the scratches at the base. But hush !— 
 silence, and caution \” 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 33 
 
 As he said these words, the dervish cast a 
 look behind him, and Hoossein, following the 
 direction of his eye, observed a troop of horse- 
 men, who were rapidly coming on behind. 
 u Say not a word, but occasionally respond 
 to my cry/ 5 said the guide, who instantly 
 commenced, with a deep voice, to intonate the 
 customary sounds of Hoo ! Hoo ! Hoo-ool-hak 
 Hoo-ool-hak ! at the same time flourishing his 
 spear-headed club in the very faces of the 
 horsemen as they came up, when elevating his 
 voice still more, he shouted Yah Allee ! yah 
 Imaum Hoossein ! Hoo-ool-hak ! 
 
 While the cavalcade approached, Hoossein 
 observed, that it consisted of about ten well 
 mounted horsemen, followed by a like number 
 of lightly loaded mules, each bearing also a 
 menial servant, tent-pitcher or groom. The 
 first of the horsemen, who rode a small pacing 
 Arabian, was obviously no man of war, but on 
 either side, as yielding him the place of honour, 
 rode two well appointed cavaliers, mounted on 
 well trained powerful horses, completely armed 
 according to the fashion of the time. Behind, 
 came several others equally well provided, and 
 the whole bore an appearance of being the train 
 of some rich and powerful personage. 
 
 As the young man gazed at the party, and 
 scanned its force and aspect, the leading horse- 
 man drawing near attracted his more imme- 
 diate attention, when, to his amazement and 
 
 c 3 
 
34 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 horror, he discovered the features of the very 
 eunuch who had accompanied the Sheikh-ul- 
 Islam on his first visit to Ameenabad. 
 
 So complete was the surprise, that Hoos- 
 sein lost all remembrance of where he was, and 
 of the part he had to support ; and what the 
 consequence might have been is uncertain, had 
 not his guide stept in to his aid by roaring out 
 his discordant salutation to the travellers, and 
 with a sweep of his club managed to touch the 
 young man on the shoulder. 
 
 “ Out, dog of a dervish,” shrieked the Aga, 
 in his cracked voice ; u out of my path, if thou 
 fearest spear or scimitar !” 
 
 “ Hoo ! Hoo roared the dervish with a 
 frightful laugh, as he backed to one side, out of 
 the way of the cavalcade, some of whom gave 
 him abuse, though notone of them ventured to 
 lay hand or stick upon the mendicants. The 
 whole swept on like a breeze over the corn, and 
 the dervish then turned to his companion. 
 
 “ This is thy self-possession then ! Is it 
 thus thou hopest to blind the searching eyes 
 thou wilt meet in yonder city ? Is thy mind to 
 be shaken thus at every passing gale 
 
 “ May Allah forbid, comrade!” replied Hoos- 
 sein, “ there are few gales that could shake me 
 as this has done !” 
 
 66 Ay ! knowest thou the vermin then ?” 
 if Know I them ! Allah ! Was it not his 
 baneful presence that first brought evil to our 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 35 
 
 dwelling, to my own beloved home? And 
 can I see the wretch again without an ardent 
 desire to tread him under foot ? w 
 
 “ Look that he do not that for thee. Thou 
 art about to cross his path, and should he de- 
 tect thee, no prophet’s tongue is needed to tell 
 the consequence. That animal is on his way 
 to Kermanshah, an emissary from his master, 
 for the same object that draws thee thither. 
 Seest thou no cause for caution, for discretion 
 in this ?” 
 
 “ Truly I do comrade, and l am ashamed to 
 think how well I have merited thy rebuke; but 
 practice maketh perfect. I shall mend. Mean- 
 time, in God’s name, let us push on ; the arrival 
 of this fiend is a proof, in addition to all others, 
 how much my presence is wanted in the ba- 
 zaar of Kermanshah. So, Bismillah ! let us 
 proceed.” 
 
 “ Bismillah , then let us proceed. If warn- 
 ing will serve, thou art warned.” So saying, 
 they mended their pace, and soon found them- 
 selves beneath the gigantic cliff of Bessittoon. 
 There, in a cell of the caravanserai, they found 
 some comrades of the order, with whom Noor 
 Shah held secret converse for a while ; after 
 which, the whole party proceeded to discuss 
 such viands as their wallets supplied, and then 
 each man, who required repose, took his rest 
 as he sat or lay, while the others gave them- 
 selves up to smoking and contemplation. 
 
 At night, as usual, they resumed the jour- 
 
36 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 ney ; but, after pursuing the broad highway for 
 about an hour, Hoossein observed that his 
 guide took a direction more along the base of 
 the mountain, to the right, and he inquired 
 if this were the road to the city. 
 
 u Be guided by your guide,’* replied Noor 
 Shah, sententiously ; “ trust to him who is 
 showing thee the safest course.” 
 
 Thus admonished, Hoossein followed in si- 
 lence, until after five or six hours* walking, they 
 reached the termination of a prodigious cliff, 
 from the foot of which ran a clear stream. 
 
 “ Drink,** said the dervish, with one of his 
 scornful laughs; “ a lover should relish a 
 draught from the fountain of Shireen.** 
 
 Hoossein needed no such incentive, for the 
 thirst created by continued exercise was suf- 
 ficient to recommend a less fresh and delicious 
 beverage. When they had refreshed themselves, 
 Noor Shah turned towards a lofty archway cut 
 in the rock close by. 
 
 “ This,’* said he, “ is the celebrated Tauk-i~ 
 Bostam , fabricated by Ferhaud for the pleasure 
 of the fair Shireen ; but it receives other 
 tenants now, as you will find.” 
 
 On entering this magnificent hall, Hoossein 
 observed, in a corner, three dervishes, recog- 
 nisable by their peculiar caps and long hair, 
 seated round a fire of brushwood and weeds. 
 
 ^ Hoo ! Hoo !** exclaimed Noor Shah, as 
 lie advanced. 
 
 “ Hoo-col-Hak !’* was the reply; and the 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 3 7 
 
 party made room for the new comers. A pipe 
 was handed to them in silence, which the guide 
 smoked with eagerness ; but the odour was too 
 pungent for Hoossein, who excused himself 
 from partaking of the intoxicating stuff, a 
 compound principally of fermented hemp, call- 
 ed in India, B hang. 
 
 After a space of nearly a quarter of an hour, 
 some low and indistinct ejaculations were heard 
 to proceed from individuals of the party ; and 
 these were the precursors of a dialogue in short 
 sentences, which ensued between Noor Shah 
 and one who probably was the principal person 
 among the strangers. It was maintained, at first, 
 in the mystic language; but afterwards, as if 
 they desired that Hoossein should comprehend 
 what was said, without the medium of inter- 
 pretation, they adopted the phraseology of or- 
 dinary discourse. 
 
 “ Are any of them arrived ?” demanded 
 Noor Shah. 
 
 u Yes,” responded the other. 
 
 66 What number, and when ?” 
 
 “ It is said about one hundred and fifty, and 
 they have been arriving in parties, for these 
 three days back.” 
 
 u Any of them disposed of yet?” 
 
 “ None. Allee Reza says the Begler-beg 
 objects.” 
 
 “ And where have they been quartered ? 
 How are they kept?” 
 
38 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 “ Some in the Koordish caravanserai ; some 
 in private houses ; some in chambers behind 
 the bazaar! But it is said, the Gouraftns are 
 crying shame on the Buchtiarees, for feeding 
 the Osmanlee bazaars with captives of their 
 own countrymen ; and Roostum Beg’s men are 
 getting alarmed. Allah knows best if they will 
 ever reach Baghdad, by the pass of Kerrend.” 
 
 “ Good ! Inshallah, they shall not;” and 
 after these words the conversation again re- 
 sumed its mystic dress. Food was then pre- 
 pared, and was succeeded by the nargilieh and 
 sleep. 
 
 “ By your soul, comrade,” said Hoossein to 
 his guide, in an under tone, when he saw the 
 others disposed of in sleep or meditation. 
 “By your soul, tell me of whom you were speak- 
 ing just now.” But Noor Shah either heard him 
 not, or was indisposed to reply ; for, assuming 
 an attitude of intense abstraction, he only ut- 
 tered the usual words : “ Yah, Hyder ! Yah, 
 Allee ! Rebbee !” The air of blank disap- 
 pointment and upbraiding with which the young 
 man regarded his guide, after a second unsuc- 
 cessful appeal, produced no apparent effect; 
 and, mortified and perplexed, he laid himself 
 down upon his hard pillow, when weariness 
 soon brought sleep to his aid, and, for a time, 
 he forgot his distresses under its balmy in- 
 fluence. 
 
 Before evening had set in, Noor Shah urged 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 39 
 
 on his charge to depart ; and by the time when 
 darkness had fallen and the bazaars were fully 
 illuminated by lights in every shop, they entered 
 the city. In traversing these bazaars, Hoossein, 
 whose eyes were in earnest movement to dis- 
 cover some familiar face, as if in each shop or cell 
 he expected to see some of his missing brethren, 
 was powerfully struck by the variety in charac- 
 ter and costume of those who filled these tho- 
 roughfares, for here were Koord and Lac and 
 Lour, and even the turbans and beneesh of the 
 Osmanlee, while here and there a swarthy high 
 featured Arab might be seen mingling with the 
 sober figures of the citizens and shopkeepers. 
 
 Here, too, were fakeers and dervishes of 
 every sect and grade, and many were the hoarse 
 yells and blasts of horns which proceeded from 
 individuals of that fraternity. Yet Noor Shah 
 accosting no one, held on without a halt to an 
 opening in the bazaar that led to a lane behind, 
 and stopping at a little door in a wall of mud, 
 he uttered, as he rapped at it, a low peculiar 
 howl. The door soon opened, and the two com- 
 rades entered a little court, at the other side of 
 which shone a light in a window of oiled paper. 
 
 Crossing this court, which was irregular and 
 full of holes, they entered another passage, on 
 one side of wdiich hung a purdeh , or screen ; 
 and this being lifted, they were admitted into 
 a snug well carpeted apartment, at one end of 
 which blazed a cheerful wood fire. Beside 
 
40 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 this sat a pleasant looking old man with a 
 rosary in his hand, who was engaged in listen- 
 ing to the items of an account read to him by 
 a secretary. 
 
 On the entrance of the two dervishes, the 
 old man nodded to his secretary, who bundled 
 up his papers, and shuffled out of the room; 
 then rising himself with a “ Salaam -ul-alei- 
 coom !” he went forward to receive them. 
 
 “ Welcome !” he said, “ a hundred times 
 welcome, ai Noor Shah ! your place here has 
 long been empty ! you bring light to our old 
 eyes, man !” 
 
 To this cordial greeting the impenetrable 
 Noor Shah returned apparently little acknow- 
 ledgment. A short return of the salute of peace, 
 and a few equally laconic apothegms of a 
 mystic character, uttered with a countenance 
 as hard as rock, was all he vouchsafed to be- 
 stow upon the warm hearted druggist, though 
 he nestled himself into the comfortable seat 
 prepared for him by the fire, and spread his 
 hands to the blaze with gestures of satisfaction, 
 which proved him not utterly dead to creature 
 comforts, while the old man bustled about with 
 ready alacrity to provide for his guests. 
 
 “ And this,” said he, when all at length were 
 seated, “this — ” 
 
 “Is the new Mooreed (disciple) replied 
 Noor Shah, interrupting his host. “ Have you 
 a nargilleh ?” 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 41 
 
 “ It is just coming, and of the right sort too. 
 Does he — ?” 
 
 “No, he has not reached it,” was the re- 
 sponse. 
 
 Two water pipes were then produced, one of 
 which was handed to Noor Shah, the other to 
 Hoossein, who, on tasting it, found it to be 
 charged with pure and fine tobacco, while the 
 fumes proceeding from that which his comrade 
 was pulling at, convinced him that its contents 
 were highly drugged. Its powers of soothing, 
 however, appeared to be considerable ; for after 
 sucking it most industriously for full ten mi- 
 nutes, and taking one inordinately long pull 
 before he handed the exhausted instrument to 
 the druggist, and having emitted a grunt of 
 satisfaction along with the remains of the 
 smoke, he settled himself at ease, with one side 
 leaning on his crooked stick, while the twinkle 
 of his keen eye gleamed from under the matted 
 locks, like a distant light in a forest. 
 
 “ Good/* said he, after a considerable period 
 of silence, and the interchange of a few mystic 
 questions and remarks ; “ it is said the people 
 have arrived ? What is known of them ?’* 
 
 “ It is true, many of them have been brought 
 hither, poor wretches. Ai Wahi ! a sad thing it 
 is to see the children of Allah taken like sheep 
 or cattle to be sold by their brethren ! By your 
 soul, my heart turned to water at seeing them!** 
 
 “Umph!** growled Noor Shah, “worms of 
 
42 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 earth, that come from dust and return to it, must 
 fulfil their destiny. What has become of 
 them ?’* 
 
 “All are here as yet. These Buchtiarees 
 would have made short work, and passed them 
 off to the Turks at once. My contempt upon 
 these Osmanlees !* — and there are some of the 
 girls who would bring high prices.’* 
 
 “In the name of Allah/* exclaimed Hoos- 
 sein no longer able to restrain himself, “of 
 whom do you speak ?** 
 
 Noor Shah cast a scowling glance at the 
 young man at this interruption, but Allee Reza, 
 the druggist, whose head was formed of softer 
 materials, with a benignant smile, said — 
 
 “ Be patient, my young friend, and in due 
 time you will know all. Patience compasseth 
 its end, while passion vexeth the soul and 
 shutteth up the eyes of the mind. The people 
 we speak of are, as thou wouldst soon have 
 known, the same whose fate you seek to learn ; 
 we are working for their good. Do not you 
 thwart our efforts by an impatience that may 
 ruin all, while it can profit neither you nor 
 them.** 
 
 Hoossein shrunk abashed from a reproof 
 which he felt that he merited, and which, given 
 so mildly, had far more effect upon his feel- 
 ings than the stern rebukes of his ascetic 
 guide ; while Allee Reza went on to say — 
 “There are many Gsmanlee agents here, and 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 43 
 
 all are eagerly lcoking out for bargains ; but 
 there are difficulties in the way. In fact, the 
 feeling here is much against such wholesale 
 dealings. We all know that Lour and Buch- 
 tiaree, Lac and Koord, will have their feuds 
 and their chuppows, and, Bismillah ! let them 
 enjoy them. Let them break each other’s heads, 
 and steal sheep and drive cattle to their heart’s 
 content; nay, if they do get hold of a young girl 
 or handsome boy, and sell them without fuss, 
 who cares ? So long as they keep the matter to 
 themselves, the villages and families can spare 
 them. But when they come upon us with a 
 whole village dragged from their beds, and from 
 their murdered parents, and uncles, and breth- 
 ren, and fill our bazaars and caravanserais with 
 miserable wretches, naked and hungry, crying 
 out 6 Amaun, Amaun/ in our ears, Wullah 
 Billah ! it is too much. Kermanshah is nei- 
 ther slave market nor shambles to sell human 
 flesh in ; and whose dogs are these Buchtiarees 
 that dare to throw this shame upon our beards? 
 By your own head, it will not do ; the good folks 
 here are crying out about it, and say too much 
 has been winked at already; it will bring a 
 curse upon the place, if allowed to go on. 
 
 66 They say these wild tribes are no better 
 than the Toorkomans of Kipchauk and the 
 Attock, and are making our city like Khyvah 
 or Bockhara, where regular bazaars are held for 
 the Mussulmauns of Khorasan. My curse be 
 
44 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 on the robbers ! But this will not do : the 
 heads of our great tribes here, the Gorauns 
 and the Kelhores and the Zengenehs have be- 
 come jealous of such open practice, and have 
 resolved to set their faces against it; and even 
 our Begler-beg is opening his ears to the cry, 
 although no doubt they have been shut to some 
 purpose hitherto. Thus the Buchtiarees can- 
 not deal. The agents fear to buy, forHoossein 
 Koolee Khan, they say, has sworn they shall 
 not pass Kerrend. And who is Roostum Beg 
 to set himself up against all this ?” 
 
 “ So then none have been sold ?” 
 
 “ Not one, I believe, unless on the way 
 some secret trafficking may have been at j' 
 tempted ; but there is a little of that per- 
 haps. 
 
 “ Good; it must be stopped, however. And 
 the girl, the Zabit’s child or grandchild ?” 
 
 “ Of her there are no tidings. We cannot 
 learn whether she has been brought hither or 
 not; none of the captives know aught about 
 her.” 
 
 A groan, which Hoossein could not suppress, 
 awakened the compassionate feelings of the 
 honest druggist, who, turning to him, said, 
 
 “ Take courage, young friend, in the absence 
 of known evil we may hope for good. If she 
 whom you search for, be not in Kerman shah, she 
 runs the less risk ; and by the blessing of Allah, 
 you may trust to find her yet.” 
 
THE BUCHTIARE E ADVENTURER. 45 
 
 “ Oh ! that I could think so, father \” said 
 the young man, strongly moved. “ Oh ! that 
 I could feel convinced she was still in the 
 hands of that villanous robber ; even that 
 would be something, for he would shield her 
 from harm, for the sake of gain. But the 
 Sheikh-ul-Islam, or a Turkish harem* is 
 equally ruin to her, and death to me ! Oh ! 
 would to Allah this suspense were over, for 
 scarcely can I endure it longer \” 
 
 “My curses on the Sheikh -ul-I slam \” re- 
 sponded the druggist, with a bitterness which 
 did not appear to belong to his nature, “ fear 
 not for him ; in that quarter she will be cared 
 for. It is here we must watch that she slip not 
 through our fingers. Yet that cannot easily 
 happen ." 
 
 “ May Allah bless you, father, for that say- 
 ing ; your words are like salve to a fretted sore, 
 they soothe my very heart ! But could we not 
 see these captives ? from them we might learn ; 
 oh, they would tell me all." 
 
 “ Again, my son, again impatient and impru- 
 dent at the same time. Think you that a know- 
 ledge of your presence here would helpthesepoor 
 captives, or aid your object ? Believe you, that 
 these same Buchtiarees would relish your com- 
 municating with the captives in their charge ? 
 Nay, would they not instantly seek to add you 
 to their number ? Your eagerness blinds your 
 judgment." 
 
46 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 “ Or probably/' interposed Noor Shah, in 
 his cold sardonic tone, “ he thinks it might aid 
 his views to fall into the hands of the worthy 
 Aga Jeewah, who is now within the city, as he 
 knows by the civil meeting we had with that 
 admirable person on our way hither.” 
 
 Again did Hoossein hang his head. Yet the 
 painful workings of his bitter anxiety found no 
 relief either in the cautious maxims of his host, 
 or the taunting rebukes of his guide. The con- 
 versation was soon after interrupted by the 
 entrance of a substantial meal, at which no 
 symptoms of self-denial appeared on the part 
 of Noor Shah, who, moreover, indulged liberally 
 in draughts of that seducing beverage, which 
 true Mussulmauns are forbidden to make use of; 
 and the result, so far as might be conjectured 
 from appearances, was a state of perfect pla- 
 cidity. Little further, however, transpired on the 
 subject of the captives, and the discourse, after 
 lapsing for a time into the mystic phraseology, 
 dropped altogether. 
 
 A deep intonation of some of the usual 
 ejaculations issued at intervals from the der- 
 vish, who seem plunged in total abstrac- 
 tion; while, on the other side of the fire- 
 place now filled with little more than embers, 
 the eyes of the good druggist, who had likewise 
 assumed the attitude of contemplation and 
 ease, began to close more and more frequently ; 
 and after twice or thrice starting, and catching 
 
THE BUCHTIA REE ADVENTURER. 
 
 47 
 
 at his fallen beads as well as the half muttered 
 prayer which had been hushed together with 
 the dropping tusbee, he bade his guests good 
 night, and retired. 
 
 Hoossein, whose mind, uneasy and harassed, 
 had busied itself, while the others were thus 
 employed, in brooding over the miseries of his 
 fellow villagers and the possible fate of his 
 beloved mistress, seeing that nothing further 
 was to be gathered from his companion, co- 
 vered himself with the lahoff \ which a servant 
 brought for his use, and sought for comfort in 
 repose. His example w’as soon followed by his 
 contemplative guide, as he, too, on the succeed- 
 ing morning appeared enveloped in the same 
 fashion, and gave sufficient proof of sound sleep 
 by the most prodigious snores. 
 
48 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE BAZAAR. 
 
 Early on the morrow, when the sun had 
 awakened the sleepers of Kermanshah, and its 
 multitudes had gone forth to their daily labour, 
 or to supply their daily wants, Allee Reza 
 among others repaired to his dookan in the 
 bazaar just in front of his private house ; while 
 his two guests, having smoked their pipe, sat 
 on the raised clay terrace in front, looking out 
 upon the crowd of comers and goers, of buyers 
 and sellers, of the preyers and the preyed upon, 
 who constitute the population of a large city. 
 
 66 By your soul, Aga,” whispered Hoossein 
 earnestly to his host, u the caravanserais must 
 be open by this time. Could w r e not take a 
 turn through them just now, and try if we can 
 see some of the unfortunates ? I ask only to see 
 them, Aga, nothing more ; by your own re- 
 vered head, I will be prudent ; not a word will 
 I utter, not a movement will I make that you 
 can disapprove.” 
 
 * Shop. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 49 
 
 “La-illah-il-ullah )" exclaimed the druggist, 
 lifting up his eyes, “what a fancy, to think 
 of old Allee Reza Attaur taking a run round 
 the bazaars, like a madcap, an hour after sun- 
 rise, and poking his nose into ail the caravan- 
 serais like a news gatherer ! Young man, you 
 must have lost your wits ! Is your brain sound?’" 
 And the old man evinced somewhat more crus- 
 tiness than belonged to his nature at a proposal 
 so contrary to his usual sober habits. But 
 observing his young friend mortified by so 
 pointed a refusal, he added, 
 
 “ My son, you have forgotten my lecture 
 last night upon patience. 6 It is the gate of 
 joy," saith the Sage, ‘ while precipitation leads 
 to sorrow ; it may be a bitter tree, but it bears 
 sweet fruit/ But come, be satisfied, two hours 
 hence I shall myself go forth ; and if you pro- 
 mise to keep within due bounds, I will prevail 
 on your friend to let you accompany me. We 
 will visit the poor captives, and, please God, 
 we may learn some good news.’* 
 
 Alas ! how often does age appear to forget 
 the days that are gone, when the blood, which 
 now runs feebly in its shriveled channels, was 
 shot with the ardour of youth, and coursed 
 furiously through the veins ! How seldom does 
 it sympathize with the tortures of the youthful 
 heart, when its own has become dull to the 
 pains of disappointment. 
 
 Bitter, indeed, was the cud of patience which 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 D 
 
50 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 Hoossein had to chew for far more than the 
 two promised hours, which appeared to him 
 like ages, as the old druggist continued slowly 
 serving customer after customer, giving each a 
 lengthy direction as to the use or abuse of the 
 article sold, with many digressions regarding 
 the hot or cold nature of his various remedies, 
 and entering into the minutest detail of each 
 account with a persevering precision, which 
 made the poor lad heart-sick. But resolved to 
 call down no further rebukes for impatience, 
 and to show that he might be trusted, if for no 
 other purpose than that of gaining greater 
 liberty, he compelled himself to sit still and 
 smooth his brow, evincing outwardly no symp- 
 tom of disturbance. At length, however, came 
 his reward. Noor Shah, on being appealed to, 
 made no objection, but said, 
 
 “ He knows both his danger, and the means 
 of shunning it ; he knows that success depends 
 upon firmness and discretion. Let him ponder 
 this well, and remember that if few words be 
 worth a miscal of gold, silence is worth a maun. 
 In the name of Allah, let him come.” 
 
 Accordingly, the shop being left in charge of 
 a lad, the two comrades followed the druggist 
 through the bazaar towards the caravanserai 
 Koordee. 
 
 “ Know you these fellows?” demanded Noor 
 Shah, in an under voice, of Hoossein, as they 
 passed a group of wild figures who were 
 cheapening arms at a shop. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 51 
 
 Hoossein turned and saw the well known 
 Buchtiaree dress and appointments, and could 
 almost have believed he recognised some of his 
 old opponents in the Yeelaks of Ameenabad. 
 His reply, however, was only a significant 
 glance, and on they proceeded until at length 
 they stood at the entrance of the caravanserai ; 
 where, just in the gateway, among a concourse 
 of muleteers, and grooms, and porters, and 
 petty dealers, who were constantly coming and 
 going, they recognised another party of their 
 Buchtiaree acquaintances, obviously on guard, 
 and carefully examining with their eyes all 
 who went in or out. 
 
 On approaching this place, Noor Shah be- 
 gan to tune his horn, and, after a few sturdy 
 blasts, bolted out a long string of those unin- 
 telligible ejaculations with which the fraternity 
 are pleased to edify the uninitiated. The drug- 
 gist, a well known character of the place, en- 
 tered without exciting attention; but the Buch- 
 tiarees flocked around the dervishes with a 
 superstitious reverence, importuning them for 
 talismans, charms, and blessings. To get rid of 
 these gentlemen occupied some time, during 
 which, the druggist made inquiries at the se- 
 raidar about the captives. 
 
 The chambers occupied by them were pointed 
 out to him, and he found these watched by 
 several of their captors. As a person desirous 
 of examining the slaves, with a view to pur- 
 
 d 2 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
52 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 chase, he was readily permitted to see them; 
 and while he was seated, thus engaged, in an 
 outer chamber, the two dervishes came up, and 
 joined the group, with the freedom assumed 
 by their privileged order ; so that Hoossein 
 found himself at once in presence of several 
 of his fellov/ villagers who were now brought 
 forward to be examined. 
 
 “ Here is a Juan . Here is a youth for you, 
 Aga/* said the person, who took on himself 
 the charge of puffing the goods. “ Look at 
 him, only ; there is strength, there is beauty ! 
 cheeks like roses, and limbs like Roosturffis ! 
 Make of him what you will ; he is fit for 
 anything, furosh or Jeloodar, Peishkhidmut or 
 Pehlewan.” 
 
 It was not without deep emotion that Hoos- 
 sein, in this young man, discovered an intimate 
 companion of his own, a grand-nephew of the 
 good old Hadjee, and consequently a near 
 relative of his own Ausieh ! 
 
 “See, Aga, here is something more to your 
 taste, perhaps. Old men love young attendants, 
 and here is one scarcely to be matched ; only 
 fifteen, too: see these cheeks, as smooth and as 
 red as a peach ; and that dimpled, beardless 
 chin. Wullah! he is like a woman; but no 
 woman is he, Aga. What a Gholaum-balchah 
 (a page) he would make for a great Khan! 
 What a bath attendant for any one !” 
 
 Thus did the man run on, as one after an- 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 
 
 53 
 
 other of the male villagers were produced 
 before the Attaur ; and Hoossein, though kept 
 on the rack with excitement and distress, re- 
 strained his feelings wonderfully. More than 
 once, did the old man put such questions to 
 the prisoners as might lead them to describe 
 the particulars of their capture, and the number 
 made prisoners ; but as soon as he touched 
 upon such topics, the spokesman interrupted 
 the inquiry, and called for another subject. 
 
 At length the druggist, in the hopes of some 
 more favourable chance, told the agent that he 
 had seen men and boys enough ; that he now 
 desired to see his female wares. To this, 
 as in all such cases, some small demur was 
 made ; but the druggist, well experienced in 
 such matters, rose and told them, that he had 
 no time for coquetting, he was a man of busi- 
 ness, he had to act for others ; so if they had 
 a mind to deal, Bismillah ! let them produce 
 their best goods at once, otherwise Khodah 
 Hafiz ! ,y 
 
 This alternative, pronounced in a calm, in- 
 different tone, and enforced by a movement to 
 rise, had an immediate effect ; for the Buch- 
 tiarees, who had begun rather to despond about 
 the disposal of their captives, were too anxious 
 to secure a customer, to permit the old gentle- 
 man to depart ; so after a little more fuss, in 
 spreading screens and curtains, to shut out the 
 spot from public view, some females were 
 brought forward. 
 
54 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 And now were the sympathies and eager ex- 
 pectations of Hoossein excited more power- 
 fully still. To exclude from the place der- 
 vishes, holy men, was out of the question ; no 
 one would have ventured on the dangerous 
 measure of provoking their displeasure by such 
 an affront ; and the young man, thus privileged, 
 had to endure the pain and mortification of 
 seeing the sisters and daughters of his friends, 
 creatures whom he had known and loved from 
 infancy, the playmates and intimates of his 
 beloved Ausieh, exposed to the stare of stran- 
 gers, like beasts of the field, for sale. 
 
 But though many were produced, and some 
 of sufficient comeliness, the eyes of Hoossein 
 still looked for more; and the druggist, com- 
 prehending his wishes, addressed the chief 
 official, in terms somewhat slighting the fe- 
 male charms he had produced, and expressed 
 his fears that, unless there were something yet 
 to come of far greater attractions than what 
 had hitherto been shown, and which might 
 induce a purchaser to think of the other slaves, 
 he feared there was little hope of his coming to 
 a bidding. Thus pressed, the chief negociators 
 conferred together ; and intimating to the 
 druggist that he should have reason to be 
 satisfied, the signal was given, and a veiled 
 female, of slender shape and promising stature, 
 was led forward. 
 
 The heart of Hoossein beat wildly as she 
 advanced ; so great was his disorder, that 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 55 
 
 though he experienced a secret belief that the 
 figure before him was not that of his mistress, 
 his hopes and his fears were so balanced, that 
 he could scarce have declared whether relief 
 or disappointment prevailed, on the veil being 
 removed, when features, beautiful indeed, and 
 well known, but not those of Ausieh, appeared 
 from behind it. 
 
 The sigh, which escaped from his pent-up 
 breast, conveyed to the druggist the fact, that 
 this was not the maiden sought for. So, after 
 a short examination of the poor weeping girl, 
 to whom he addressed a few kind words ; and 
 receiving replies from the agent to some of 
 the ordinary questions respecting her price, he 
 rose, shaking his head, and said — 
 
 “ 1 fear the Kiayah must wait till the next 
 arrival; for if this be your best, there is no- 
 thing here that would do for him.” 
 
 w The Kiayah !” repeated the agent. “ Stay, 
 Aga ; by your soul, stay a moment ; perhaps 
 we may suit you yet. There is one remaining 
 still — a pearl, indeed, such as is seldom found 
 in any sea ; a rose, such as Gourjistan, or 
 Feringistan, cannot match ; one moment, Aga, 
 and she comes.” 
 
 Again, accordingly, was a veiled female led 
 forward ; and again did Hoossein hold his 
 breath, while his heart beat as if it would burst 
 its bounds. Nor was it this time without some 
 cause ; for though, on the veil’s removal, h 
 
5G 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 saw not Ausieh, he found that it had covered 
 the features of a very lovely girl, another grand- 
 child of the old Zabit’s, the daughter of one of 
 his sons, and who had been his Ausieh’s 
 favourite companion and playfellow. And now 
 came the struggle, not only of indignant feeling, 
 but of almost irrepressible eagerness ; for he felt, 
 that from this young creature he might learn 
 all he burned to know— the fate of his mis- 
 tress ; yet to ask the question was forbidden, 
 was impracticable. 
 
 The druggist saw the excitement and the 
 struggle, and dreading the result, he once more 
 rose, and said to the agent : 
 
 “ This then is your pearl, your fairest rose. 
 It is well. She is lovely ; but the Kiayah is a 
 nice judge. In the meantime, may Allah keep 
 you ; should anything further come to hand, 
 let me hear of it. Allee Reza Attaur is well 
 known throughout the bazaar/’ With these 
 words, he quitted the place. 
 
 “ Depend upon it, my son, the maid you 
 seek is not with these people. Had she been 
 there, she would have been produced. You 
 might have seen how eager they were to secure 
 a purchaser, like me, who talked big and was 
 fastidious/* Thus said the druggist to Hoos- 
 sein, who after lingering in vain about the 
 caravanserai had returned to the shop. 
 
 u Oh, if I could but ask two questions from 
 that girl !” responded the young man with a 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 57 
 
 heavy groan. “ She knows all, and could tell 
 me everything, I die to learn !” 
 
 “It maybe so, my son ; yet it may be other- 
 wise. How likely is it that they were separated, 
 in the bustle and the fray, and that they have 
 not seen each other since ! But to speak with 
 her, at present, is impossible, the attempt 
 would be fraught with heavy risk to every one 
 concerned; a risk you have no right to bring 
 on others, even were you reckless as to your- 
 self. No ; patience, I say again, my son ! Let 
 time do its w T ork, and dread not the result ; 
 no evil to be apprehended from delay can be 
 so great, as that which may be caused by pre- 
 cipitation.” 
 
 Alas ! patience again ! that bitter food, so 
 oft prescribed to stay the pining stomach of 
 anxiety ! Hoossein was sick of it, yet still 
 forced to feed, a little longer, on the nauseous 
 diet. He was, in fact, learning under his 
 dervish’s weeds, severe, but useful lessons of 
 self-denial and mortification. Yet did he not 
 submit to all this suffering without a struggle. 
 “ Necessity,” saith the proverb, “ sharpeneth 
 wut, and hunger rnaketh wise the fool/’ 
 
 Musing over all that he had seen and heard, 
 he could discover no good reason for trusting 
 entirely to the efforts of others, without at- 
 tempting a single exertion in his own behalf. 
 Dangers doubtless were around him, but 
 the disguise which had concealed him, 
 
 d 3 
 
58 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO; 
 
 when in company with others, would not be 
 less effectual when alone. He had now seen 
 enough of the manners of the dervishes, as he 
 thought, and had caught sufficient of their 
 phraseology, to impose upon the vulgar. And 
 as for his own prudence, what young lover ever 
 doubted that ? He resolved, therefore, to sally 
 forth, and seek for favourable chances of gain- 
 ing his ends instead of waiting till they should 
 reach him through other channels. 
 
 He had remarked the fondness of the Buch- 
 tiarees for many trifling articles, with which 
 Noor Shah had provided himself; such as beads, 
 bits of clay from various shrines, rags of cloth, 
 papers having characters scrawled upon them, 
 and cabalistic figures, all of which were believed 
 to possess some high virtue of infinite value 
 to the wearer. With these he resolved to 
 supply himself ; and gathering certain scraps of 
 writing from the druggist’s shop ; bits of red 
 cloth ; the beads of an old rosary, and other 
 such articles, towards evening, he left the house 
 to layout a portion of the little money he pos- 
 sessed, in adding to his store such things as 
 were likely to promote his object. 
 
 Having completed his purchases, though not 
 without being stared at a good deal by the 
 shopkeepers, who usually found in persons of 
 his profession beggars, rather than buyers of 
 their goods, he walked round the bazaars, 
 by way of practice, in order to make ac- 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 59 
 
 quaintance with the streets and ways of the 
 town, so as to facilitate his movements on the 
 morrow. The excitement, arising from hope 
 in the success of his project, enabled him to 
 bear with more composure the long dull even- 
 ing which succeeded, and which, unenlivened by 
 any fresh intelligence, was passed by the drug- 
 gist and his companion, together with another 
 brother of the fraternity, who appeared to have 
 merely been attracted by the scent of a good 
 meal, in mystical communings, long contem- 
 plative pauses, bursts of frantic ejaculations, 
 smoking, wine drinking, and sleep. 
 
 Before his dervish companions had slept 
 off the effects of their debauch, though not 
 before the honest and more sober druggist was 
 already in his shop, did Hoossein leave the 
 house, and assuming the free careless gait of 
 the mystic fraternity, proceeded towards the 
 Koordish caravanserai. In his demeanour he 
 imitated what he had remarked in the conduct 
 of Noor Shah, and other fakeers ; occasionally, 
 and as it were from some incontrollable impulse, 
 ejaculating the monosyllable Hak ! or repeat- 
 ing the Hoo ! Hoo ! Hoo ! for many times 
 together, yet with an expressive calmness of 
 countenance, as if the mind was unconscious 
 of the effect of its own workings upon its 
 carnal tabernacle. 
 
 If any one addressed him while feigning this 
 rapt state, no attention was made to the appeal; 
 
60 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 if alms were tendered, they were received with- 
 out thanks, as they were bestowed without 
 solicitation ; and thus did the neophyte pro- 
 gress, gazed at with reverence, but unchalleng- 
 ed, to the gate of the Koordish caravanserai. 
 
 All here was in the busy hum of morning acti- 
 vity. Travellers were mounting and setting off, 
 or waiting in their riding gear for the moment of 
 departure. There were beasts of burthen, mules, 
 yaboos, camels in the act of being loaded by 
 their swearing roaring drivers ; horses and bag- 
 gage cattle driven out to water, or returning 
 in strings, with the grooms, or Cherwadars,* 
 singing their wild songs, as they sat lazily on 
 the backs of the leaders. Groups at the doors 
 of the several chambers were smoking in the 
 early sunshine. Bales of goods, and packages of 
 various descriptions were rolled or tossed to and 
 fro by the sturdy arms of porters or muleteers, 
 while merchants or clerks stood by to watch 
 the proper disposal of their goods. 
 
 In this bustling scene lounged Hoossein, 
 with his satchell of charms and relics, and his 
 studied mystical shouts ; nor did he fail 
 soon to attract attention. Prudent enough, 
 when unmaddened by extreme emotion, and 
 thrown upon his own resources, instead of 
 proceeding at once to the side where his real 
 business lay, he stood for a while at the gate, 
 displaying some few of his talismans and beads, 
 
 * Muleteers. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 61 
 
 in an old copper vessel, and mumbling some 
 Arabic prayers, mingled with sounds, as like 
 those he had heard used by his companions as 
 he could make them. He was soon sur- 
 rounded by idlers, who put to him a multitude 
 of questions. Some old way-farers, after listen- 
 ing for a few moments, would give an “umph” 
 of contempt for the young dervish, and pass 
 on ; others less knowing, or more superstitious, 
 gazed with respect upon even a juvenile aspi- 
 rant of his mysterious order ; while a few 
 requested charms, talismans, or a sacred bead 
 or two to bind upon their person, in order to 
 secure success in some desired object, or to 
 preserve them from some dreaded evil. 
 
 Among the rest several of the Buchtiaree 
 band came lounging up, and gazing with stolid 
 curious faces upon the saint, who, gaining 
 courage from success, proceeded on towards 
 other groups, gathering an offering, or giving a 
 terse reply to some question, but avoiding con- 
 versation, without affecting rudeness, until at 
 length, by a natural circuit, he reached the side 
 of the square where the captives were kept. 
 
 Of these many of the men were sitting in 
 little groups, before the doors of the cells, 
 smoking and stretching themselves in the 
 morning sunshine, watched only by a few of 
 their guards, who interfered little with their 
 movements; and the young man* s heart beat 
 quicker, as he saw, in a manner within his 
 
62 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 grasp, the opportunity he so ardently sought 
 for of learning more than he yet knew of the 
 fate and condition of his surviving fellow villa- 
 gers. While he was approaching, some of them 
 had risen, and even came forward, as it seemed, 
 to meet him ; and he was meditating how he 
 might address them in such a way as to avoid 
 the risk of having his secret betrayed through 
 surprise or other mischance, when he observed 
 three or four of the Buchtiarees, who had been 
 conversing together at some distance, also 
 coming up. 
 
 His fears were instantly aroused. There 
 was nothing left, however, but to stand his 
 ground ; and his apprehensions were speedily 
 removed by the demeanour of the men, whose 
 looks betrayed neither anger nor suspicion, but 
 who talked eagerly with one another as if they 
 were continuing some discussion which had al- 
 ready been going on. 
 
 C£ Ay/’ said one of them, as they came 
 within hearing, “ that is the very thing ; no 
 doubt this Calunder is the man who can do it. 
 Bismillah ! let us ask him at once/’ 
 
 Thus relieved, Hoossein had time to regain his 
 equanimity, and prepare for what should occur. 
 
 “ Selaam-ui-aleicGom ! Dervish, may Allah 
 be ever in your path ; may his shadow protect 
 you, Inshallah !” said the spokesman. “ Thou 
 art, Mashallah ! a holy man ; a servant of God, 
 who knowest the past, and doubtless seest into 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 63 
 
 the future. Here are some Mussulmauns, also 
 creatures of Allah, and servants of his prophet, 
 on whose name be blessings ! who are about to 
 take a journey, to commence an undertaking ; 
 and they desire much to know whether it will 
 be fortunate ; whether this is the time to com- 
 mence it or not.’* 
 
 It did not require much reflection, on the 
 part of Hoossein, to remind him that no jour- 
 ney or enterprise about to be undertaken by the 
 guard of these captives, could be uninteresting to 
 him ; and he at once resolved to profit by the op- 
 portunity so singularly thrown in his way, of 
 learning their intentions. Preserving, therefore, 
 the impassive rigidity of feature he had assumed, 
 he replied, 
 
 “ Children of Adam ! who are ye, whence 
 come you, and whither would ye go ?** 
 
 “ Come with us, dervish, to our munzil, 
 and thou shalt hear all ; and we swear by the 
 head of Allee, that if thou canst assist us, ye 
 shall not lack reward. Come, this place is too 
 public for our business.” 
 
 Hoossein, scarcely believing his good for- 
 tune, followed the men to the cell which they 
 occupied ; and a nargilleh having been pre- 
 pared and smoked, the spokesman began as 
 follows : 
 
 u I know not, O dervish, whether thou art 
 an entire stranger in these parts, or hast tra- 
 velled among the tribes and mountains of 
 
64 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 Buchtiaree and Louristan, from the first of 
 which we draw our origin. Thanks be to 
 Allah, we are Buchtiarees; ay, and of the 
 tribe of Suhooneh.” 
 
 (t Say on, man/' replied Hoossein : “ the 
 country and the people are known to me/’ 
 
 “ It is well. Then must it also be known 
 unto the dervish, that between these tribes fre- 
 quent quarrels arise and feuds ensue, in the 
 course of which villages are chuppowed and 
 captives taken. These captives, as is our 
 wont, we sell, save when ransomed at as good 
 a price as we can obtain from purchasers. Such 
 a quarrel as I speak of having ended in a chup- 
 pow, on the part of our chief and ourselves, 
 many captives were taken, and they have been 
 brought hither, under our charge, to be dis- 
 posed of.” 
 
 The man paused here ; but Hoossein, though 
 his eagerness to question him almost overcame 
 his prudent resolutions, refrained from making 
 any remark, beyond a word of intelligence and 
 assent. The other continued : 
 
 “ It appears, however, that we must have 
 left our homes under an evil influence, for not 
 only have we made no sales to speak of, but 
 we are regarded here, as it would seem, with 
 an evil eye, which hinders all purchasers from 
 approaching us. Nay, threats have been made, 
 it is said, that should any one buy, he may 
 make up his mind to the loss of his purchases 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 65 
 
 by force or fraud. Only yesterday came there 
 a rich merchant of the bazaar, who made all 
 sorts of inquiries, saw all our best and comeliest 
 captives, and was satisfied, as he believed; but, 
 lo ! we hear nothing further of him ! Our 
 dillauls (brokers) are all in despair; our means 
 are getting low, and something must be done 
 to turn our captives into money, or we shall 
 go back to our homes with empty purses and 
 blackened faces.” 
 
 u If your purses be empty, you will have the 
 less to fear, for money is the cause of fear. 
 Ye say ye left home under an unlucky influ- 
 ence; how was it with you in the chuppow?” 
 
 “ Our luck was perfect, our star was high ; 
 we lost nothing, gained everything. If ill luck 
 there were, it was none of ours.” 
 
 “ Ay, thou hast said it : ill luck there was 
 and ill luck there will be, for others were joined 
 in the matter with thy brethren and thee, and 
 the curse of their fortune overshadows all/’ 
 
 66 Allah ! what sayest thou?” 
 
 “ Thou knowest that the chuppow of which 
 thou hast spoken was provoked by no ordinary 
 cause. Between the people who were spoiled 
 and thy tribe there was no blood. Thy master 
 did the evil work of another, and the evil will 
 fall on his own head.” 
 
 “ In the name of Allah, dervish, what evil 
 work dost thou talk of? What meanest thou 
 by these words ?” 
 
66 
 
 AL.LEE NEEMROOj 
 
 “ Thou saidst I knew the past. Thou 
 didst say well. Thou wilt find still more is 
 known to me. But thou thvself knowest 
 
 J 
 
 well at whose instance thy master put his 
 foot into the stirrup in' this affair. Thou art 
 not ignorant of its objects ; that a portion of 
 the spoil was already bargained for. Thou 
 knowest why the bargain remained unfulfilled. 
 Is there more needed ? Thou knowest that a 
 poor weak, unoffending old man was to be de- 
 stroyed, and his child carried off, to gratify the 
 revenge and the lust of a hypocrite. And canst 
 thou doubt whence comes the evil influence 
 that pursues thee ?” 
 
 66 Soobhan-ullah ! what miracle is this ?” 
 exclaimed the man in amazement and alarm. 
 “ In the name of Allah ! what art thou, der- 
 vish?” 
 
 “ A fragment of earth, illuminated by the 
 light and the truth of the Most High ! Hoo-ool 
 Hak ! Hoo-ool Hak ! Hoo-ool Hak ! The past 
 has been shown to thee, and now to tell the 
 future. Where is that old maifs child ?” 
 u Wullah Billah ! Hoozrut we know not. 
 She is not and never was with us ; and what 
 has become of her I cannot tell.” 
 
 This w~as an important point gained, and 
 Hoossein felt the relief; but, having expe- 
 
 * The presence, majesty, power, an epithet of respect 
 applied to sovereigns and holy men. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 67 
 
 rienced the value of prudence, he dared not to 
 press his inquiry further at the time. Solemnly 
 addressing the spokesman, he said, 
 
 u It was thy master’s evil destiny that led 
 him to engage in such an enterprise, which, 
 originating in unprovoked oppression and rapa- 
 city, could bring no good fortune on those con- 
 cerned in it. If he seeks to shake off the 
 curse, let him purge himself of the cause. Let 
 him restore the maiden to her surviving friends, 
 and thus avert future and heavier evils. For 
 thyself, hope not that good fortune can attend 
 on any portion of an accursed enterprise ; but 
 signify what ye require ; and as the past has 
 been already expounded to thee, thou slialt 
 learn the future.” 
 
 “ May your favour never diminish, Huzrut ; 
 it is as follows : seeing that nothing is to be 
 done here, and that the road, by Kerrend, is 
 beset, it has been proposed that we four shall 
 start with six of our choicest captives, three 
 girls and three lads ; and taking the moun» 
 tainous road, by Harasin, to traverse the Feilee 
 country, entering it by the Pasces of Zarnah 
 and Ghilan ; and, reaching the Turkish terri- 
 tories, where we should be safe, and not only 
 be able to sell what we carry with us, but strike 
 a bargain, perhaps, for more. In the mean- 
 time, two of our number would return to our 
 master and inform him of how matters stand 
 here, and let him judge what is best to be 
 done.” 
 
68 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 “ And when do ye purpose to set out?” 
 u That, Huzrut, will depend upon your fa- 
 vour ; we hope, through your profound know- 
 ledge, to obtain a fdl 9 * or a propitious hour. 5 ’ 
 
 “ It is well ; and, Inshaliah ! ye shall not be 
 disappointed. But mistake not ; responses, 
 such as ye desire, are the fruit of prayer and 
 penance. The mortal frame must suffer, ere 
 the spirit can soar clear of its earthy dross 3 and 
 rejoice in the knowledge which it sighs for. 
 To-morrow, at this time, thou shalt know what 
 the Almighty deigns to reveal.” 
 
 With these words he rose, and with the true 
 blunt demeanour and swinging step of a der- 
 vish quitted the chamber, followed by the four 
 gaping, awe-struck Buchtiarees. 
 
 Full of what he had discovered, Hoossein 
 hastened to the druggist’s house, and told him 
 all that had occurred. While yet discoursing 
 on the plans of the Buchtiarees, Noor Shah 
 came in. 
 
 “ Thou hast played an adventurous game, 
 my son,” said the druggist. “ That success 
 has attended thee so far is due to the mercy of 
 Allah ! But think not that thy friends were 
 ignorant of the designs of these men, though 
 I must confess that thy discoveries have added 
 usefully to their knowledge ; and their applica- 
 tion to thee, this day, may be turned to great 
 advantage.’’ 
 
 * An omen, or prediction, to guide the conduct of the 
 Seeker \ corresponding with the ‘ Sortes Virgilianse.’ 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 69 
 
 “ Umph,*’ growled Noor Shah, with his cus- 
 tomary harsh sententiousness. a Madmen will 
 sometimes pass in safety through the fire, where 
 the wise would scorch their feet. The insanity 
 of the youth hath, for this time, gone before 
 our wisdom ; but beware, young man. The 
 hand of intrepidity may pluck the rose of 
 safety from the same precipice where the foot 
 of impatience and folly gives way and betrays 
 its owner.’* 
 
 “ But give ear, Allee Reza,” continued he ; 
 and the two adepts conversed together for a 
 while, in a subdued voice, making use of the 
 mystical terms of their sect. 
 
 At length, the druggist again addressed his 
 young guest : 
 
 66 Listen to me, my son. Thy rashness, as 
 thy friend hath truly termed it, has, for this 
 time, turned to a good account ; not, as I 
 have said, that we were ignorant of what was 
 going on, but that thy information will enable 
 us, the more effectually, to baffle their schemes. 
 The wicked shall be taken in their own snares. 
 They shall go forth upon their journey, but it 
 will lead them whither they look not. Thou 
 shalt keep thy appointment with them, my 
 son ; let them want neither fal, nor hour . They 
 may go as leaders of captives, but as captives 
 themselves shall they return ; as for thy friends, 
 have thou no fear. These robbers shall be met 
 withall, and by those who will not fail to give 
 a good account of them, and a ransom shall be 
 
70 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 provided for those who remain here from a 
 source which their guards little dream of ; and 
 now see, thy friend will instruct thee as to thy 
 further proceedings, Mashallah ! couldst thou 
 but throw off the world, and its follies, what a 
 dervish wouldst thou make !” 
 
 Noor Shah then proceeded to point out to 
 Hoossein the manner in which he was to deal 
 with the Buchtiarees, in taking out a fal for 
 them ; showed him how to use the sacred Tus- 
 bee , or chaplet of beads, and lent him a copy 
 of the works of Hafiz, which had often been 
 made use of for the same purpose. After 
 mature consideration and calculation, he then 
 mentioned an hour to be indicated to them, as 
 that in which they should leave the city, and 
 finally cautioned the young man, generally, to 
 say as little as possible, and adhere as closely 
 as he could to the short and apothegmatic sen- 
 tences made use of by the silent fraternity of 
 dervishes. 
 
the buchtiaree ADVENTURER. 71 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE K00RD1SH CARAVANSERAI. 
 
 The morrow came at length, and Hoossein, 
 prepared with his charms, spells and talismans, 
 took his way to the caravanserai, where he 
 found the Buchtiarees anxiously waiting his 
 arrival. Hurrying him to their chamber, where 
 he was received with all the respect they could 
 evince, a calleeoon was provided, which he 
 smoked with imperturbable gravity 3 and after 
 sundry deep-toned ejaculations, he remained 
 gazing upon the ground in silence and utter 
 abstraction. But the Buchtiarees, although 
 fear of offending the holy man subdued their 
 natural rudeness, and held them mute for a 
 Avhile, were too impatient to suffer this state 
 of suspense very long ; and their spokesman, 
 at length gathering courage, ventured to ob- 
 serve, that, 
 
 u If it were not displeasing to the Hoozrut ; 
 if the Hoozrut held in mind his promise, his 
 servants had hopes of a falP 
 
 u It is well, children of Adam,” said the 
 pretended dervish in solemn accents. “ Ye 
 desire to look into futurity, ye seek for an omen 
 
72 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 of success; ye shall obtain it. Ye would learn 
 the fitting hour for commencing your un- 
 dertaking; it shall be made known to you. 
 Profit now by what Allah permits to be dis- 
 closed. Behold this sacred tusbee ! the clay 
 which forms these beads was moistened by the 
 blood of sainted Allee, the vicar of the Most 
 High. Behold, too, this volume ; it contains 
 the Dewan of the divine Khojah, w ? hose mystic 
 writings beam with the light of eternal truth, 
 and from whose burning words have been 
 drawrn a thousand true presages. Choose ye 
 between these venerable objects, and declare to 
 which of them ye desire to appeal/’ 
 
 Smitten with awe at the sight of these myste- 
 rious articles, which were produced wfith no 
 small ceremony from coverings of embroidered 
 silk, the robbers whispering consulted together, 
 and signified at length that to the rosary they 
 desired to refer the fate of their intended enter- 
 prise. Hoossein then called for a Menkal , or 
 brazier of coals, which being brought, he took 
 from his wallet a little packet, and threw a por- 
 tion of its contents upon the red charcoal. 
 These instantly blazed up on high, and filled 
 the chamber with an aromatic, but pungent 
 smoke, which powerfully affected the eyes. 
 Over this he held the chaplet, muttering for 
 some minutes together a string of sentences, 
 resembling prayers or invocations. The pro- 
 cess continued for nearly ten minutes, during 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 
 
 73 
 
 which time profound silence was kept by all 
 the party, who, each and all, sat motionless, 
 gazing at the flame and the sacred beads on 
 which he believed his fate to depend. At 
 length, the flame having sunk, and the beads 
 being withdrawn, the young man addressed his 
 auditors as follows : 
 
 “ Children of Adam, approach and prove 
 your destiny. Behold this holy chaplet, pre- 
 pared as it has been for this solemn occasion; 
 observe each seventh bead has assumed a 
 darker hue ; let him among you, whom ye shall 
 select, approach blind-folded, and, while thus 
 held out by this servant of Allah, let him seize 
 the string at random ; the number of beads 
 below and above the point so seized will afford 
 the means of indicating what ye seek to know.” 
 
 Thus called upon, after a short struggle 
 between the reluctance of awe, and their desire 
 to obtain the response, the spokesman came 
 forward, and having his eyes bound in the 
 manner prescribed, with a form of invocation, 
 was directed to seat himself near the pretended 
 dervish. In this manner, while the latter held 
 the upper end of the tusbee, he grasped its 
 lower extremity with his left hand, and catching 
 at it in the centre with the thumb and finger, 
 exclaimed, 
 
 “ Bismillah irruhman-irruheera !” to which 
 the dervish solemnly responded, “ Mubarick 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 E 
 
74 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 bashud Inshallah ! May it be fortunate !’* and 
 then counted off the beads below the fingers. 
 
 “It must be nine times repeated/* said 
 Hoossein, “ for in a matter of consequence like 
 this, fallible mortals must not trust to one trial ; 
 assurance lies in numbers, and that of nine has 
 power/* 
 
 This powerful number of fals having been 
 duly completed, the man removed the bandage 
 from his eyes and retired, and Hoossein pro- 
 ceeded to sum up the result and deliver the 
 response, which he did as follows, 
 
 “ Children of Adam ! know, that the omen 
 ye have sought, betokens difficulty and danger, 
 but precludes not success ; for comparing the 
 indicating numbers with those of the fals taken, 
 there remains not a doubt of your reaching your 
 destination, while, the circumstance of your 
 agent having, thrice running, grasped the 
 chaplet within one grain of the upper dark 
 coloured bead, indicates the occurrence of 
 obstacles, which it will demand both courage and 
 perseverance to surmount. Does this content 
 you ? or seek ye another trial ?” 
 
 The men, evidently at a loss held counsel, 
 again together. “ Can the Huzrut give any 
 notion of the kind of danger which his servants 
 may have to encounter ?** 
 
 That which Allah deigns to shadow forth 
 can alone be declared by his servant. But are 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 
 
 75 
 
 ye not men? Are ye to be daunted by the 
 fore-knowledge of difficulty ? See ye not that 
 the season advances ? Lies not your way 
 among the mountains, where men are few, but 
 ice and snow abound ? Is there not, in this 
 promise of obstacles and difficulty, sufficient 
 to call forth your full vigour, and justify the 
 omen which predicts hardship and danger ?’* 
 The men’s countenances cleared up at once. 
 “ Oh ! as for the snow, Mashallah ! we know 
 what it is made of ; we have no fear of it. And 
 now, Hoozrut, for the fortunate hour!” 
 
 “That also has been considered, and what 
 has now declared itself confirms the result of 
 previous calculations. Let this day and the 
 coming night be spent in such preparations as 
 ye require ; but see that the following noon find 
 you not within these walls. The most aus- 
 picious hour is the first after the Numaz-e- 
 Soobh.* May the omnipotent guide you aright.” 
 With these words the pretended dervish un- 
 ceremoniously departed; but not before his 
 anxious clients had slipped into his satchel 
 sundry coins, the value of which he sought not 
 to inquire ; and he then, at once, made his way 
 homewards to report the success of his ar- 
 rangements. 
 
 “ Barikillah \" said Allee Reza, as the young 
 man related what had passed ; “ thou wilt be a 
 
 * Morning prayer. 
 
 E 2 
 
76 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 worthy brother some day yet. Thou hast the 
 true dervish fire in thee, which needs but 
 rousing to burst into a blaze. But there is 
 time enough. Thy call -has not yet come. 
 Thou hast done well, Mashallah ! and to-mor- 
 row, please God, we shall hear yet more. In 
 the meantime those thieves must be provided 
 for. Next time ye see them, Inshallah ! it will 
 be with blackened faces and hands hound.” 
 
 During the whole forenoon did Hoossein 
 ponder over the events of the last three days. 
 His mind was in a ferment, his brains be- 
 wildered. He felt himself in a position which 
 sorely perplexed him. Physically he was at 
 liberty, for he laboured under no personal 
 constraint ; yet was he assuredly under a moral 
 bondage, more powerful than that of bodily 
 enthralment. His mind, his power of action 
 was fettered, and so completely mystified did 
 he feel, that there appeared to him no mode of 
 escape. Yet, after all, was escape to be de- 
 sired ? might he not be in the best, probably 
 the only path for obtaining the object of all his 
 wishes ? Was he not certainly and almost 
 miraculously aided in these objects ? Of him- 
 self could he do any good ? 
 
 The power which aided him was beyond his 
 comprehension ; indeed viewless, yet pervading 
 as a spiritual essence, it appeared to confine him 
 in an atmosphere of mystery ; yet he felt its 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 77 
 
 benign agency, and had substantial intercourse 
 with some of its many agents. He was, in 
 short, under the influence of a spell, which, 
 while it wafted him towards the object of his 
 wishes, he felt in no wise inclined to resist. It 
 would be time enough, he thought, for re- 
 sistance when evil should appear. 
 
 Still he was restless; and goaded into motion 
 by anxiety, as evening approached, he again 
 quitted his munzil, and strolled forth through 
 the bazaars. His eyes were amused by the 
 various groups that thronged the street or 
 clustered round particular shops ; and the roar 
 of tongues and the rapid action of the speakers 
 distracted his mind, for the moment, from its 
 secret uneasiness. 
 
 Wandering on, he reached the shop of a 
 Sherbet-furoosh , happily situated at a point 
 where the bazaars crossed, and whose bowls of 
 stewed prunes and apricots were devoured with 
 double relish by the crowd of customers, as 
 they listened to the story of an itinerant 
 dervish, who, with extravagant action, was 
 narrating the fortunes of some Prince and 
 Vizier's daughter. Hoossein paused to listen 
 with the rest, and, as he leaned against the 
 raised terrace of an opposite shop, he became so 
 much interested in the manoeuvres of a rival 
 Jin and Peri, who took part with or against the 
 lovers, as suited the story-teller’s purpose, that 
 
78 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 for the time, he half forgot alike his grief and 
 where he was. The kissago ,* however, accord- 
 ing to the usage of his craft, after having once 
 or twice extracted some copper pieces from the 
 by-standers, who stood drinking in his words 
 with mouths agape and grins of delight, stopped 
 abruptly at a point of the greatest interest, 
 giving notice that on the following night he 
 should return and finish his tale. 
 
 The bustle of the departing crowd awakened 
 Hoossein from his dream, and he also was 
 turning to depart, when his eye fell upon a 
 group of three men, who appeared to be watch- 
 ing him attentively. They were plainly and 
 even coarsely habited, and yet there was a 
 peculiarity in their air, which the young man 
 detected at once as pertaining to the Nowkerbab 
 or military cast, and he could not repress a 
 feeling of alarm, as he found himself so dis- 
 tinctly the object of their scrutiny. 
 
 To return their stare, however, being none 
 of his business, he soon left the place to 
 them, and continued his aimless wanderings, 
 sometimes amusing himself as before, or turn- 
 ing into a caravanserai, and examining the 
 groups of merchants and travellers of various 
 countries seated at the doors of their respect- 
 ive chambers. In this way, more than one 
 hour insensibly elapsed, when he found him- 
 * Story-teller. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 7$ 
 
 self, without any premeditated purpose, at the 
 gate of the Koordish caravanserai. 
 
 To resist entering, though without object as 
 without hope, was beyond his virtue. The 
 evening being far spent, the crowd of comers 
 and goers had disappeared, and the bustle 
 within the square was over. Darkness pre- 
 vailed, save where the light of a fire, from the 
 open doorway of some cell, threw its gleam 
 across the way, and lighted up the figure of a 
 solitary muleteer or horse-keeper, returning 
 from the stables to their munzil. 
 
 Across this court, threading his way among 
 the piles of bales and various goods with which 
 it was strewed, and the groups of ruminating 
 camels, which from want of room had been 
 disposed in circles on the ground, Hoossein 
 made for the quarter of the captives, and lean- 
 ing against a heap of packages, watched for 
 what might occur. Few, however, were the 
 figures to be seen moving about; even the 
 guards themselves seemed to be taking their 
 rest, or perhaps their evening meal; for Hoos- 
 sein could distinguish the hum of many voices, 
 issuing from the cells they inhabited. 
 
 While thus occupied, and revolving many 
 impracticable schemes for getting access with- 
 out danger to some of his countrymen, the 
 young man observed a light issue from the 
 portal of a chamber nearly opposite. The 
 mat which hung at the entrance of the inner 
 
80 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 division was raised, and a female form issued 
 forth, holding a water vessel in her hand. 
 Hoossein^s heart beat quick as he watched 
 her pass along the raised terrace, and then 
 descending into the court,, take her way to- 
 wards a cistern that supplied water, for the 
 wants of the occupiers of the caravanserai. 
 This was beyond his hopes, and now almost 
 confident of finding a friend, he advanced to- 
 wards her. 
 
 Engaged in drawing the water, the female did 
 not observe that any one was approaching, 
 until Hoossein was close at her side, while he, on 
 his part aided by the faint light which streamed 
 from a distant doorway, examined her person with 
 the most earnest attention. A thrill of hope and 
 joy shot through his heart as he gazed on her. 
 Could it actually be so ? Could his happy star 
 have in truth brought within his reach the very 
 one of all the captives whom he most desired to 
 speak to ? And yet how could he make himself 
 known without creating alarm, and thus putting 
 all to risk ? But time was passing ; the female 
 turned to depart, and Hoossein no longer 
 hesitated. u Fatmeh ! Fatmeh ! Janum* !” whis- 
 pered he, softly, in his own voice. The female 
 started. Hoossein repeated the call. 
 
 “ Allah !” exclaimed the gir aloud. 
 
 “ Fatmeh ! do you not know me ?’* uttered 
 he, still more distinctly. 
 
 * My soul ! 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 8L 
 
 “ Soobhaun-ullah ! Great God ! if Hoos- 
 sein Kerbelai be on the earth, that is his 
 voice !” exclaimed she. 
 
 “Hush, hush, for Allah’s sake, dear Fat- 
 meh,” said he. “ It is I, it is Hoossein, who 
 has come to help and try to deliver you/’ 
 
 The girl, with a half suppressed shriek 
 turned, and threw herself into his arms, ex- 
 claiming, “Ah Hoossein ! Dear, dear Hoos- 
 sein ! where, oh, where have you been so 
 long? Allah, Allah! what dust has fallen on 
 our heads, Hoossein !” and she sobbed bit- 
 terly on his breast. 
 
 Soothing her as best he could, and drawing 
 her from a spot so dangerously public, he 
 besought her to take courage, and to make 
 the best of the time they had, by giving all 
 the information she could about their situa- 
 tion. 
 
 “ And, Fatmeh, tell me for heaven’s sake, 
 what has become of Ausieh, your own dear 
 relative, my beloved Ausieh ! is she not with 
 you here?” 
 
 “ Here, Hoossein ? Ah no; Ausieh is not 
 here ; she did not come with us.” 
 
 “ Soobhan-ullah ! And what then has be- 
 come of her ? In the name of Allah say !” 
 
 “ Alas, how can I tell ? When that fierce 
 and wicked man, Roostum Beg, destroyed oai 
 village ~ah, what a night of judgment 
 
 e 3 
 
 was 
 
8 2 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 that, Hoossein ! And you away too ! Ah, 
 had you and the rest been with us, all this 
 mischief would never have happened, you 
 would have guarded us all better ! Well, 
 Ausieh and I were taken together ; but were 
 almost immediately separated. We were hur- 
 ried off. Ah, it was a frightful business, and 
 many fell and were destroyed, but they put 
 me on an ass, and I was preserved; others died. 
 Next day, after travelling fast all night, we 
 halted in a wild and dreary spot ; not like our 
 own sweet Yeelaks, Hoossein, but bare and 
 rocky, and, oh ! so cold ! And then I saw 
 Ausieh again. She had been brought in by 
 another party, and she wept so much, and w^as 
 so really ill, that they thought it best to keep 
 us together, and so it was for us, Hoossein, 
 though we cried, oh, Allah ! how we cried ! 
 But we all wept together, embracing one ano- 
 ther. And thus they carried us to Roostum 
 Beg’s fort, where we remained for some days. 
 But after all the cruel men separated us, oh, 
 that was the dreadful thing ! The Khanum, 
 as they called her, a coarse old woman, but 
 not bad hearted, did what she could to comfort 
 us, and when we were taken away she promised 
 to be kind to Ausieh, so they brought us hither. 
 Allah ! what a journey, by your soul, we were 
 more than half killed ! But Ausieh remained 
 behind, and what further has happened to her, 
 in truth, I know not. But oh, Hoossein, 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 83 
 
 where have you been, and what can you do for 
 us ? Oh ! for Allah’s sake save us, dear Hoos- 
 sein, from these villanous robbers. They say 
 we are to be sold to the Turks, Hoossein. Can 
 you suffer that? Oh, for God’s sake — for Au- 
 sieh’s sake, who loved you so well, and me 
 her little cousin, dear, dear Hoossein save us !” 
 and again the poor girl gave way to a passionate 
 burst of grief. 
 
 “ Oh, hush ! dearest Fatmeh, be composed, 
 be tranquil/’ said he, “do not give way thus, 
 think that, should we be overheard or seen, all 
 would be lost; fear not, dear girl, I have friends, 
 powerful friends, you shall not be sold, rest 
 satisfied of that. But, Fatmeh, we must go 
 cautiously to work. 1 also am in danger ; see 
 this disguise, it is necessary to my safety as 
 well as yours ; if your guards should find us 
 together, we are ruined.” 
 
 At this moment a shrill female voice was 
 heard calling on Fatmeh. “ Oh Heaven,” said 
 she, “ that is she, I must go, God help me ! 
 Oh Hoossein do not desert us !” 
 
 “Fatmeh! Fatmeh! I say,” exclaimed a 
 man’s voice. 
 
 “Belli Belli! coming — God bless you, Hoos- 
 sein !” and giving her one caress to re-assure 
 her, he glided from her side into the gloom, 
 and took his way towards the gate. 
 
 He had nearly reached it, when the gleam of 
 a lamp from the chamber of the Seraidar fell 
 
84 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 upon a group of three person s, who were just 
 passing through to the street, and whom Hoos- 
 sein recognised as the same three persons he 
 had observed watching him in the bazaar. His 
 blood chilled at the thought that they might 
 have witnessed his accidental interview with 
 F&tmeh, and overheard what had passed between 
 them. But he shook off the thought as too 
 painful to be entertained, and calming himself 
 with supposing they might be lodgers in the 
 caravanserai, going forth upon their own busi- 
 ness, took the way homeward at once. 
 
 As he passed through the now dark and 
 abandoned bazaar, cautiously picking his steps 
 to avoid the holes and obstacles that too fre- 
 quently occur in such thoroughfares, he again 
 remarked that three figures passed at some 
 distance before him, obscuring the glimmer of 
 a solitary light, the only one to be seen in the 
 vast length of the bazaar. The circumstance did 
 not tend to quiet his apprehensions, and he 
 took what precautions he could, to repel any 
 violence that might be offered. They proved to 
 be vain, however, for just as he reached an 
 opening that led to a lane striking off from the 
 bazaar, and not far from that in which was the 
 druggist’s house, he was nearly thrown from 
 his feet by the rush of several persons together, 
 whom he could not distinguish, and who made 
 several blows at his person. These fortunately 
 missed him in the dark ; but in another mo- 
 
THE BUCIITIAREE ADVENTURER. 85 
 
 ment his arms were seized, and, in spite of his 
 struggling, pinioned behind him, and tied with 
 a strip of cloth. 
 
 Finding himself thus fettered, and unable to 
 make any further resistance, he tried to alarm 
 the neighbourhood by shouting for help. But 
 the bazaars, so densely crowded by day, are de- 
 serted at night, and the ruffians, resolved that 
 his cries should prove fruitless, found means to 
 muffle up his head so that no sound could 
 escape. Thus was he hurried away as rapidly 
 as the darkness would permit, until after seve- 
 ral turnings and windings, they forced him into 
 an open doorway, which immediately closed 
 behind the party. Halting here for a minute 
 until a light was brought, Hoossein saw that 
 they were in a court surrounded by ruin- 
 ous buildings ; but his observations were cut 
 short by a blow, and he was forced through a 
 broken archway and long passage into a small 
 quadrangular cell, where their journey termi- 
 nated for the time, for they took the cloth 
 off his head, and rudely throwing him on the 
 ground, tied his feet with cords, keeping his 
 hands still bound behind him. All but one 
 then quitted the place, and Hoossein was left 
 for a time to his own cogitations. 
 
 For a while the whirl of excitement, pro- 
 duced by the occurrences of the last few hours, 
 continued so to stun and perplex his brain, that 
 
86 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 at first he could hardly reflect at all. But as 
 this agitation subsided, his thoughts became 
 bitter enough. By obeying the dictates of his 
 own impatient spirit, in spite of the warnings 
 of his experienced friends, whom he now re- 
 garded as his true and sincere well-wishers, he 
 had frustrated all their efforts in his favour, 
 and lost his liberty, probably too his life; for if, 
 as he had cause to dread, he was now in the 
 hands of the Sheik-ul- 1 slam' s agents, what 
 better than death had he to expect ? In 
 addition to all this, he had ruined the hopes of 
 those friends who had trusted to his discretion ; 
 he had sealed the fate of Ausieh, whom he 
 would have freely poured out his blood to 
 protect. Yet here was a solitary gleam of 
 comfort; for he had discovered at all events 
 that she was neither in the hands or control 
 of the Sheikh-ul-Islam. She would not then be 
 sacrificed to his unhallowed lust, nor sold with 
 the rest of the captives, like beasts of the 
 field, to Turkish Pashahs and Kiayahs. She 
 probably was reserved for some more impor- 
 tant purpose, and might, therefore, he hoped, 
 be regarded as safe for a while ; at all events, 
 time would be given for his friends to interfere, 
 and they had promised solemnly that in this 
 point his interest should not be lost sight of. 
 
 Ausieh then would be safe ; and be his own 
 fate what it might, this was an unspeakable 
 
THE BCCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 87 
 
 relief. His malignant foe would be baffled in 
 his unholy purpose, and vengeance, he doubted 
 not, at one time or other, would overtake the 
 nefarious hypocrite. Oh could his friends but 
 learn what had occurred to him ! Could Allee 
 Neemroo but be informed of his situation, he 
 would not then quite despair ; and he thought 
 of the token given him by Allee, which, with 
 his precious ring, was still concealed amongst 
 his rags. But how were either to be made 
 available ? Flow to convey them to his friends ? 
 Allee, though possessed of some mysterious 
 power, was still no prophet ; and how could he 
 hope that a deed, done in darkness, unseen by 
 human eye, save of the perpetrators alone, 
 should ever come to his ears ? Nay, might not 
 any moment, the very next hour, quench every 
 ray of hope, and close the scene by murder? 
 
 While pondering on these gloomy thoughts, 
 he was roused from them by the sound of 
 approaching footsteps, and, preceded by two 
 torehbearers, there entered a person whose 
 aspect, though bearing the stamp of more com- 
 mand, was quite as unprepossessing as that of 
 the ruffians by whom he was followed. The 
 light, which flashed in Hoossein’s eyes and 
 blinded him for the moment, prevented him from 
 distinguishing the features of his visitor ; yet he 
 thought them not altogether unknown, and 
 sought to identify them with those of some of the 
 
88 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 servants of the Sheikh-ul Islam. But he could 
 not satisfy himself, and little time was given 
 him to clear up his perceptions on the subject. 
 
 “ So, this is the fellow,” said the man in a 
 gruff contemptuous voice, “ Mashallah ! an 
 admirable dervish ! Hah ghorumsang ! So 
 you thought to throw dust in our eyes, and 
 laugh at our beards — eh ? By my own death ! 
 it was a wonderful proceeding. But you will 
 find, lad, that we are not asses, nor is this child’s 
 play. What ? Is he dumb ? Has he lost his 
 tongue since he turned dervish ?” 
 
 Wullah ! I do not know,” said one of the 
 ruffians approaching him, “ but we shall see.” 
 With that he seized the young man's head 
 with brutal roughness and tried to force open 
 his mouth. Unable to defend himself, and 
 half frantic with indignation and despair, Hoos- 
 sein caught the man’s fingers between his teeth 
 and bit them severely; on which, furious with 
 pain, the man drew back, and disengaging him- 
 self, struck the youth a blow which threw him 
 prostrate on the earth. Then rushing on him, 
 he would have trampled on his person, but that 
 the others, loudly laughing at their comrades’ 
 mishap, by the desire of their superior, drew 
 him off. 
 
 66 Barikillah ! Batchah ! well done, for a sucking 
 dervish ; spirit enough at least ! Patience awhile, 
 my sons, he will soon be at your mercy, and 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 89 
 
 then you may reckon with him for all at 
 once.’ 5 
 
 u Cowards and beasts !’ 5 exclaimed Hoossein, 
 excited to the utmost, “ I am in your power, 
 and ye can work your will. But beware; I 
 tell you that each, and all of you, shall pay for 
 my blood ; ay, a maun for every miscal. Those 
 who watch over my life have a power which 
 ye cannot withstand. Ay, your master him- 
 self will be the first to feel it. In the mosque, 
 or in the harem, the dagger will find him, and 
 not a man, who takes part in my death, shall 
 live the twelvemonth out himself/ 5 
 
 The countenance of the youth, glowing as 
 it did with the fervor of indignation, had some- 
 thing so impressive, and even awful, as to 
 stagger the minds of his persecutors, who, 
 superstitious as they were ignorant and inso- 
 lent, entertained a feeling of awe for even the 
 appearance of a dervish, and regarded all 
 violence offered to such persons, as a more dan- 
 gerous and unpardonable sacrilege, than any 
 breach of the written law, or even of their 
 professed faith. One of them, in particular, 
 drew back in manifest dismay at what he 
 probably conceived to be the prophetic threats 
 of an inspired enthusiast. He even spoke 
 apart to the superior, and Hoossein observed 
 that immediately afterwards he left the place. 
 
 Observing the impression he had pro- 
 
90 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 duced, the young man endeavoured to increase 
 it, by assuming more of the tone and mystic 
 language of the dervish. 
 
 “ Ye call me boy, and throw contempt upon 
 my youth ; but again I say, beware, for the 
 youth of the servants of the Most High is more 
 honourable than the age of the wicked, and 
 Allah will avenge their blood. Would ye dare 
 tolay hands upon a servant of the Omnipo- 
 tent? To extinguish a beam of the essence of 
 the Almighty ? — fools ! It would become a 
 brand to consume ye ere it sought reunion with 
 its eternal service. 
 
 But the effect was less successful than that 
 of his first indignant burst, for the leaders, 
 rather irritated than awed by his harangue, 
 exclaimed, 
 
 66 Silence, vain babbler! Silence ! or we may 
 speedily try to quench this beam. We are no 
 fools to be duped by a fuzool” 
 
 “ To the devil with the ghorumsang 
 growled one of the ruffians. “ Who is he that 
 we should stand here and let the unclean beast 
 do his pleasure with our fathers’ graves ? I 
 say, Bismillah Aga ! Allee Asker is away ; so 
 give me but the word, and this longhee — ” 
 so saying, he unwound the girdle from his 
 waist, and seizing Hoossein by the neck, at- 
 tempted to bind it round his throat, in spite of 
 the impotent struggles of the wretched prisoner. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 91 
 
 The chief of the band stood glaring on his 
 victim, yet irresolute, as if he ventured not on 
 such extremities ; and while Hoossein thus lay, 
 as it were, under the very knife of the execu- 
 tioner, the man who had gone out returned, 
 and whispered a few words into the leader’s 
 ear. 
 
 “Well,” replied he, grumbling, “if so it is 
 to be, it must be, I suppose.” 
 
 And, at the unwilling signal which he gave, 
 the man retreated from his prisoner who saw 
 himself, for the moment, at least, delivered 
 from the pains of death. Again w r as Hoossein 
 left still bound as before, and more than an hour 
 passed without further interruption. At the 
 end of that time three of the men, who had 
 been concerned in his capture, made their ap- 
 pearance accoutred for a journey. Unloosing 
 Hoossein’ s legs, they made him stand upright, 
 which he could only do with difficulty, and 
 stripping from him the skin he wore, and 
 dragging the false hair from his head, but 
 leaving him his vest of rags, which was not 
 worth their taking, they threw over him an 
 old Abba, and put a felt cap upon his head ; 
 then relaxing the ligatures of his arms, they 
 placed before him some bread and a few crumbs 
 of cheese. 
 
 A suspicion crossed the young man's mind. 
 Could they mean to destroy him by poison ? If 
 
92 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 so, why should they change his dress, when a 
 few hours would give to their disposal all he pos- 
 sessed ? Why was the attempt so lately made to 
 strangle him put a stop to ? Nevertheless, by 
 way of precaution, he would partake only of 
 the bread that was offered, as a substance not 
 likely to be adulterated, and therefore safe ; 
 and this and a draught of water being de- 
 spatched, they told him to rise and follow them, 
 taking care to prevent any attempt at escape, 
 by holding fast the strip of cloth which had 
 once more been drawn close round his elbows. 
 In this way was he led back to the ruinous 
 court, where, by the light of a burning torch, 
 he saw three horses caparisoned and ready 
 for mounting, held by a servant. A handker- 
 chief being tied round his mouth, to prevent 
 his giving the alarm, he was lifted on the croup 
 of one of them, a man mounting before. The 
 rest well armed and fully prepared, sprung to 
 their horses, and in another moment they were 
 threading the streets of the city, in the gloom 
 of a moonless morning. 
 
 Day broke upon the party, as without halt- 
 ing, they passed the caravanserai at Bessittoon, 
 and leaving Saheneh on their right hand, 
 pushed on towards Kengaver, by a cross path, 
 through the mountains. The way was intricate 
 and lonely; the country inhabited only by 
 Eeliauts, and they rose among pastoral hills. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 93 
 
 which in summer are covered with rich herb- 
 age, but were now brown and barren, and 
 capped with snow. A long toilsome march of 
 more than forty miles brought the party to a 
 small and sheltered hollow, where, like a black 
 spot in the desert, was seen a mass of ruins 
 that marked the position of a spring and a little 
 rill. It was said to be the remains of a hunting 
 seat of one of the ancient monarchs of Iraun; 
 but all that now remained were the fragments 
 of several arches, and one large apartment, the 
 groined roof of which was blackened by the 
 smoke of a thousand fires. Here they dis- 
 mounted to rest their weary beasts, and refresh 
 themselves with food and sleep, and Hoossein 
 was dragged roughly enough from his uneasy 
 seat, so stiff and sore, that on putting his foot to 
 the ground he could hardly stand. He was not 
 even allowed the refreshment of sitting quietly 
 in the pleasant evening sun, as its declining 
 rays slanted along the valley even to the spot 
 where they had halted ; but he was forced into 
 the dark and dreary vault, and secured by the 
 legs to a mass of masonry that had fallen from 
 the roof, and at the foot of which he stretched 
 himself out to take what rest he might be able 
 to obtain. 
 
 In the meantime, his guards having attended 
 to their horses, took to preparing food for them- 
 selves. A fire was kindled of weeds and bushes, 
 
94 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 and was fed with the dry dung of animals, of 
 which plenty was found in the place ; and one 
 of the men having produced from his cooryeens 
 (or saddle-bags) a piece of meat, it was broiled 
 upon the embers, to relish the bread and lumps 
 of cold-boiled rice, which each drew from his 
 bags, or Shulwdr pockets. 
 
 While they were thus occupied, steps were 
 heard approaching, and the voice of an old 
 man soon succeeded, who, entering with the 
 salute of peace, besought those who had pos- 
 session of the place, to admit him to the 
 shelter of a corner, and if possible, for Allah’s 
 sake, to a morsel of food. He had missed his 
 way, he said, among the hills, and had wan- 
 dered about since morning, so that he was 
 faint with fatigue and want. 
 
 The men gruffly demanded, whence he came, 
 and whither he was bound? He was an Eeli- 
 aut, he replied, a Karagooslee, but from a dis- 
 tant part. His son had gone to live at a village, 
 near Saheneh, and had died there ; and he was 
 going to learn what had become of any effects 
 he might have possessed. A close survey of 
 his person ensued; but the examination pro- 
 duced no discovery. He wore a peasant’s 
 dress, very ragged, with the common Eeliaut 
 felt cap and jacket ; but his look was aged, and 
 his step was feeble ; so permission to enter 
 was accorded him, and by degrees he crept 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 
 
 95 
 
 into the fire-side, to warm his half-numbed 
 limbs. 
 
 In the meantime, the meal proceeded, and 
 a few morsels were thrown to Hoossein, 
 whose arms were loosed as before, while he 
 ate. Fatigued and downcast as he was, he 
 had not neglected to make his observations ; 
 not that he distinctly expected any occurrence 
 to his advantage ; but that he felt, if there was 
 a hope for him, it must rest on his situation 
 being made known to his friends, by means of 
 some intermediate person. All that day he had 
 looked in vain for travellers ; not a human 
 being had they met in their long march : and 
 now, from the old and miserable wayfarer, 
 who had stumbled on their solitary munzil, 
 what was there to be expected ? 
 
 Still, hope being the sweetest food of the 
 wretched, Hoossein would not throw it from 
 him ; and though, certainly, the first appear- 
 ance of the stranger was unpromising, there 
 was somewhat in his manner, which, after a 
 while, fixed the young man’s eye, and stimu- 
 lated him to minuter observation. He saw, 
 that though the stranger bore many marks of 
 decrepitude, a dark and glittering eye glanced 
 keenly and curiously round from under a 
 shaggy brow and tattered cap ; and that though 
 he bore the Eeliaut garb, there were moments 
 when the wearer betrayed a shade of the pecu- 
 
06 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 liarly reckless indifference of manner, that 
 stamps the fraternity of dervishes. 
 
 It might, indeed, be the creature of his 
 brain, the offspring of his wishes, rather than 
 a reality ; but the notion having once gained 
 a place in his imagination, he resolved to make 
 trial of the signal he had received from Allee. 
 It could produce no harm should it even fail of 
 doing good ; and, accordingly, after devouring 
 the scraps of food which were offered him, he 
 commenced, as if urged by pain or distress of 
 mind, to utter sundry ejaculations, as 66 Ai 
 Khodaee ! Subkan-ullah ! Rebbee /” from which 
 insulated words he advanced gradually more 
 into the regions of Sooffeeism, breaking forth 
 with a u Che mi danum !” and a distich from 
 Hafiz, or the Musnavi, which he had picked 
 up from his guide, Noor Shah. This sally 
 elicited from his guards a command: “Be silent, 
 thou dog of a dervish.” 
 
 “ A dervish, truly !” returned he ; “ for of 
 penance and fasting there is no lack ; yet, 
 would ye deny me the liberty of prayer ! Allah, 
 Allah! how I thirst ! The fountain is near me, 
 yet I cannot reach it ; give me, O man, the 
 desire of my heart ! Behak-e- Allee , give me 
 
 water. Behak-e-Koodrut-ul-Kudeer ! help me 
 to drink.” 
 
 While Hoossein was yet speaking, the stran- 
 ger took hold of the water vessel, and was 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 97 
 
 carrying it to his head, but, on hearing these 
 ejaculations, he turned to the guards, who were 
 now seated at their ease round the fire, and 
 smoking their nargilleh. 
 
 “ That wretch wants this more than T do,” 
 said he. “ Whatever be his sins, he is a crea- 
 ture of Allah ; by your permission, I will give 
 him the water.” 
 
 With these words, he rose; and approach- 
 ing Hoossein, he held the water vessel to his 
 head, saying — 
 
 t( Bismillah , man, drink ! drink, and remem- 
 ber the blessed Hoossein in your prayers ; and 
 Alice, the powerful and the open handed, will 
 not forget you in your trouble !” 
 
 And while he thus spoke, he took an op- 
 portunity of laying his hand upon Hoossein’s 
 arm, which he griped with force. The touch 
 thrilled to the very heart of the youth. It was 
 like the infusion of new life into his veins. 
 His signal had been understood, and answered; 
 his condition was known. It would be reported 
 to his friends, and, Inshallah! his life would be 
 saved ; nay, his freedom insured. What a 
 change in his feelings, from those of a short 
 moment before ! All, then, was doubt, de- 
 spondency ; all, now, was hope, and almost 
 joy. He was satisfied; his groans ceased; he 
 laid himself calmly down, and, seeking no fur- 
 ther intercourse with the mysterious stranger, 
 
 VOL. in. 
 
 F 
 
98 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 courted the repose which he so much re- 
 quired. 
 
 It was near daybreak on the morrow, before 
 Hoossein was summoned to pursue his jour- 
 ney, which was done much in the same order 
 as on the preceding day; but Hoossein had 
 now a source of comfort within him, which 
 supported him through the long-fatiguing 
 march; and though his body might suffer, his 
 heart was light and buoyant. The Eeliaut 
 stranger was not seen in the morning ; he had 
 been yet earlier than they, and Hoossein won- 
 dered not at his departure, which appeared to 
 have excited no suspicion in his guards. 
 Pressing onwards still, by the least frequented 
 paths, they avoided Kengaver; and leaving 
 Seyedabad at a little distance, ascended the 
 weary pass which crosses the shoulder of El- 
 wund, and drew up, heartily fatigued, at a little 
 village, near its foot, on the other side. 
 
 It appeared to be their purpose to avoid 
 entering Hamad&n by daylight; for they halted 
 only till evening fall ; when, mounting again, 
 they pushed on, and reached that city about 
 midnight. Treading the dark streets, they 
 stopped at length at a doorway, in a lofty mud 
 wall, which was not opened till after the lapse 
 of a considerable space of time ; and then 
 Hoossein being dragged from horseback, was 
 led through more than one court and passage 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 99 
 
 to a cell, into which he was thrust neck and 
 heels, his arms still bound, though less tightly, 
 behind his back, and left without light or com- 
 fort of any sort, to pass the night as best he 
 might. 
 
 The buoyancy of spirit, which had ushered 
 in the morning, and supported the young man 
 during this fatiguing day’s journey, was pretty 
 well exhausted before its close, and now gave 
 way to a fresh fit of despondency at this dreary 
 termination to his unlucky adventure. Perhaps, 
 though he scarcely admitted it to himself he 
 did entertain the hope of some effort in his 
 favour on the part of his friends ; and the dis- 
 appointment was imbittered by the conviction, 
 which hourly increased in his mind, that 
 the treatment he suffered betokened the 
 malice of an enemy resolved upon his ruin, 
 and that however active his friends might be, 
 he should probably become the victim, before 
 they could discover where he was, or interfere 
 in his behalf. That he was in the hands of the 
 Sheikh-ul-Islam he felt convinced ; and though 
 he did not forget the power, which his friend 
 Alice Neemroo declared himself to possess 
 over that priest, he could not but feel how 
 uncertain it was, that Allee might learn his 
 danger, in time to arrive to his rescue. 
 
 The very morning about to dawn might be 
 his last \ for if death were his destined portion, 
 
100 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 what cause could his enemy have, for delaying 
 to strike ? Life was far from indifferent to 
 Hoossein, and the greater and nearer his 
 danger became, the more powerful did he feel 
 the ties that bound him* to the world ; the 
 thought of being thus iniquitously torn from 
 all the objects of his affection, to gratify the 
 capricious tyranny of a wicked priest, was in- 
 expressibly bitter. But alas ! what could he 
 do ? A prisoner in bonds, he was powerless. 
 Nothing was left him, but passive dignified 
 submission. He resolved to man his heart 
 against his fate, to deny his enemies the satis- 
 faction of extorting from him either word or 
 groan. Indignation gave him strength to form 
 his resolve ; while occupied in these reflections, 
 nature overpowered by toil gave way, and he 
 sunk to sleep upon the cold floor of his prison. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 101 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 AN UNEXPECTED VISIT. 
 
 The rising sun flung its bright beams into a 
 fair apartment, through windows formed of 
 coloured glass, disposed in pleasing figures, 
 the under portions of which were thrown open 
 to admit the fresh air. The floor was covered 
 with carpets of velvet texture, and brilliant 
 dyes, the fabric of Herat looms ; and along the 
 sides were stretched the thick soft numuds of 
 Tuft, or Khaeen in Khorasan, forming luxurious 
 seats for the accommodation of guests. But at 
 the upper end, near the window lay a less 
 gorgeous, but still thicker and softer felt, more 
 particularly appropriated to the use of the 
 master of the mansion. 
 
 The walls of this apartment, to a height of 
 three feet from the floor, were painted in 
 patterns of crimson, and white, and green, and 
 gold, representing flowers, upon a ground of 
 azure; and in the niches and recesses, which 
 were similarly adorned, stood handsome china 
 vases, mingled with large bottles of rose water, 
 
102 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 and various other articles of luxury and orna- 
 ment; while quinces and oranges ranged on 
 several of the ledges, diffused their rich odour 
 through the room. 
 
 At one side in a large recess, was a fire place, 
 in which, for the mornings were now chill, 
 blazed a bright fire of wood, and beside 
 this fire place, upon a beautiful cushion, in 
 an attitude of thoughtful abstraction, sat the 
 owner of this luxurious khelwut. 
 
 He was a man of more than ordinary stature 
 and portly presence, whose fresh colour, keen 
 black eye, marked features, and haughty re- 
 solute expression, bespoke a mind, prepared to 
 execute its purposes at all hazards, and at any 
 cost; while a malignant scowl, which shot 
 over the countenance with a frequency that 
 marked it as an habitual visitant of the severe 
 features, gave token of the many sinister 
 thoughts that resided in the owner’s breast. 
 It was in short, the Sheikh-ul-Islam of II a- 
 madan, who was engaged at his morning de- 
 votions, while a confidential attendant, who 
 stood near the door, seemed to be making a 
 report to his holiness. 
 
 The sleeves of the priest w T ere loosened, and 
 turned up above the elbows, and the fine, 
 though sober coloured cashmere shawl, which 
 formed his girdle, had, from the ostentation 
 of strict religious scruple, been laid aside, be- 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 103 
 
 cause it contained some threads of silk em- 
 broidery. He sat in a contemplative attitude, 
 his body stooping rather forward, while the 
 head was inclined the contrary way, so that the 
 face was upturned, and the dark gleam of his 
 eye shot from beneath the knitted brow with 
 any anything but a placid expression. The 
 attendant stood still, silent, with one hand rest- 
 ing on the hilt of his dagger, watching the 
 words and movements of his haughty master, 
 but replying only when spoken to, and that in 
 a tone of profound respect. 
 
 “ Taken — caught at last , 55 muttered the 
 priest. a The worm is now in my power. 
 When was he brought hither ? 5 ’ 
 
 “ A short time after midnight, my lord.” 
 
 “ And they have placed him — ?” 
 
 “ In the cell of furnace-burned bricks, beside 
 the hummaum , my lord. His arms are still 
 tied, and even were he unbound, escape is im- 
 possible. 5 ’ 
 
 “ Good ! There let him lie ; but after all, 
 why did Shere Allee, and Mustapha plague 
 themselves and me, by bringing the prisoner 
 hither at all ? Could they not have saved them- 
 selves the trouble ? 55 
 
 “ My lord, it is said, that Aga Jeewah for- 
 bade it; that he thought from certain ex- 
 pressions that dropped from the young man, 
 it might be well if you examined him yourself 
 before — J5 
 
104 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 “ Aga Jeewah is an old ass. I believed Shere 
 Allee had better stuff in him, than to listen 
 to such fancies, whatever the Aga might do/' 
 
 “ My lord, your servant would state, that as 
 he understood the matter, the words of the 
 youth imply danger to the august life of the 
 Huzoor, and that was his reason for wishing 
 that you might inquire and judge for yourself, 
 before it should be too late to do so.” 
 
 “ My life ! — The worm ! The contempti- 
 ble atom ! What could my life have to do 
 with him ? Aga Jeewah must be raving 
 mad !” 
 
 “ My lord, I know not that ; but the men 
 themselves are here. Would it please you to 
 see them, and hear what they have to re- 
 present ?” 
 
 The Sheikh pondered for a while ; but at 
 length, as if awaking from another fit of con- 
 templation, he replied, “ It is well. Admit 
 Shee Allee.” 
 
 This man, who appeared to be the principal 
 of those who were concerned in the abduction 
 of Hoossein, was now introduced ; and after 
 a profound obeisance, stood silent, with arms 
 crossed, awaiting to be questioned. 
 
 “ So — thou hast brought us a prisoner instead 
 of a head. How has this happened? We 
 deemed you knew your duty better.” 
 
 “ My lord, let it be stated for your service, 
 that the blame rests not with your servant. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER, 105 
 
 The commands of Aga Jeewah were more 
 powerful than his — ” 
 
 “ Ah — we have heard that you plead to have 
 acted by the Aga’s orders. Have you no 
 letter? No message on the subject from 
 him ?” 
 
 66 My lord, it was Allee Asker who saw the 
 Aga upon that occasion. Ismael Jeloudar 
 would have made short work of the business ; 
 and I was as ready as he, but Allee Asker 
 brought the Aga’s directions, and I had barely 
 time to prepare for our journey with the pri- 
 soner.” 
 
 “ Where, and how was he taken ?” 
 
 “ My lord, Hussun and I had been for some 
 days looking after the Ameenabadee captives, 
 most of whom were kept in the Koordish cara- 
 vanserai, and remarking that certain dervishes 
 visited it frequently, and knowing what devils 
 for mischief they are, we watched them closely, 
 and discovered that one in particular was sel- 
 dom long away from the place. Late one 
 evening we observed him in the bazaar, and 
 supposing he would go as usual to the caravan- 
 serai, we followed him. In the end we traced 
 him thither, and soon observed him in conver- 
 sation with a female, who came from the cap- 
 tives’ quarters. From their conversation, which 
 we found means to overhear, we discovered who 
 this dervish was, and, on their separating, 
 
 f 3 
 
106 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 followed and seized him in spite of his resist- 
 ance. Such is our true statement.” 
 
 6C And the female ?” 
 
 iC My lord, of her we only know that he called 
 her Fatmeh, and that , she appeared to be 
 young. 5 * 
 
 “ Why did he not seize her also ? 5 * 
 
 “ Impossible ! my lord ; the caravanserai 
 would have been alarmed, and we should have 
 lost the more important prisoner. The Buch- 
 tiarees were on the watch : it was the darkness 
 that favoured both him and ourselves, or we 
 never could have effected what we did .* 5 
 
 “ Enough ; depart, and send Allee Asker 
 hither. 5 * 
 
 The man made his obeisance and withdrew ; 
 and after a delay of some time, which the 
 Sheikh-ul-Islam employed in alternate fits of 
 abstraction and impatience, the man was intro- 
 duced. He was a more composed and less 
 ferocious ruffian than the other, and had less of 
 mean servility in his demeanour, as he made 
 the usual salutation to his master. 
 
 ‘‘You have come when you were not ex- 
 pected,** said the priest after a while ; “ we 
 scarce can give you the welcome. But let us 
 understand, it has not yet reached our compre- 
 hension, why Aga Jeewah sent thee hither . 55 
 
 “ Let it be stated in your service, my lord, 
 that the Aga held it expedient, that you should 
 
THE BUCH TIAREE ADVENTURER. 107 
 
 yourself examine this youth before proceeding 
 to extremities. The words which your servant 
 heard from his own mouth were such, as taken 
 in conjunction with other circumstances, might 
 well inspire Aga Jeewah with apprehension.” 
 
 “ What were these words ?” 
 
 “ When the lad believed his hour was come, 
 when the executioners were standing ready to 
 deal with him, he defied them all ; declaring 
 himself to be under the protection of a power 
 which even yourself, my lord, were unable to 
 withstand , and that his blood would be de- 
 manded, 6 a maun for each miscal/ from you, 
 and every one concerned in his death. 5 ’ 
 
 u Barikillah ! beast and coward ! And is it 
 this threat, the aimless words of a despairing 
 wretch, that have turned the brain of Aga Jee- 
 wah upside down, and shook the resolution of 
 Allee Asker and Sheer Allee ?” demanded the 
 priest with a wrathful sneer. “ Wonderful ser- 
 vants I have truly, to start thus at their own 
 shadow on the wall !” 
 
 “ Let your servant be pardoned, my lord. 
 The words of the wretch under the sticks, or of 
 one with the knife at his throat, are seldom 
 found untrue ; and, be it remembered by the 
 Huzoor, that this youth, who was taken in the 
 dress of a dervish, had been all along consorting 
 with dervishes who at the time were in far great- 
 er number than usual at Kermanshah, while 
 
108 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 there were some of great influence and celebrity. 
 The belief of Aga Jeewah, as also of your servant 
 was, and continues to be, that his appearance in 
 that place at this particular time, indicates some 
 especial connexion between them, and that 
 theirs is the power by which he is protected.” 
 
 “ Well, and what then ?” 
 
 Why, my lord need not be reminded of 
 the remarkable power possessed by these der- 
 vishes, especially to do evil. They strike 
 secretly, but not the less certainly. Let the 
 Huzoor recall to mind the dreadful power of 
 the Ishmaelees ; and what were the Batunniah 
 but Soofees, Dervishes ? But pardon your 
 servant, what is he to speak before my lord ? 
 If he has erred, he is in your hands, and must 
 abide your pleasure/’ 
 
 The Sheikh-ul-Islam was evidently moved 
 by his servant’s observations, in spite of his 
 efforts to treat them with contempt. But 
 speedily rallying, and assuming an expression 
 of withering scorn, he said, “ So this is the 
 bug-bear ! the Dervishes ! the Soofees ! and 
 you would have me fear their daggers and their 
 poison, hah ? Admirable, indeed ; I, the Sheikh- 
 ul-Islam of this place, all powerful at court, 
 surrounded with bold and faithful servants, 
 yourself among the number, mashallah ! am 
 I to live the life of a fox or a hare, in constant 
 dread of the malice of a rabble of mendicants, 
 
THE BUCHT1AREE ADVENTURER. 109 
 
 because I remove a peasant from my path ; or, 
 if I would eat my bread in security and peace, 
 must comply with their terms, forsooth, and 
 spare him ! By the sainted head of Allee, and 
 the holy Kaaba, they shall find their error. 
 My own counsel shall guide me, my own will 
 alone shall control me ; and if insects will dare 
 to walk in my path, they shall be brushed 
 from it, as the dust is blown by the wind ! 
 What is the use of my servants, my guards, 
 hah?” 
 
 “ My lord, the dagger that was plunged in 
 the earth beside Sultaun Sanjar’s pillow, could 
 not, as it appeared, be kept out by guards or 
 faithful servants ; nor did the power or the 
 splendours of the Khalifat save Ul-Mooster- 
 shed, or Ul-Rasheed Billah, from the Batun- 
 niah knife.” 
 
 The priest cast a searching glance at his ser- 
 vant ; a glance, in which surprise was mingled 
 with suspicion, as he muttered, 
 
 “Ay, treachery, indeed, may penetrate the 
 anderoon and the khelwut, but let the traitors 
 beware ; they will find neither an Abbasside 
 ass, nor a Seljookian dupe in the person ol 
 Meerza Jemal- u-deen. And let Aga Jeewah 
 or Allee Asker start at shadows as they may, 
 and let dervishes or Soofees threaten as they 
 will, the man, or woman either, who once 
 crosses our path, shall never do it more.” 
 
110 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 “My lord, let your servant represent, let 
 him entreat you to see this young man, to 
 pause at least upon his doom. Think that the 
 deed once done is irrevocable, life once taken 
 cannot be restored.” 
 
 “ Away, fool ! you are dismissed, begone ! 
 Had you obeyed my orders you would have 
 spared your master the knowledge and the 
 danger of the deed, if danger there should be. 
 Away ! In future I must choose more resolute 
 instruments.” 
 
 “My lord, think in the name of Allah.” 
 
 “Hence, man, away ! what? Must I believe 
 thee traitor ? Begone !” 
 
 “Traitor? but it is well, no doubt I merit 
 the term. The day may come, however, my 
 lord, when you will regret that you listened to 
 the voice of your own passions rather than to 
 the honest warning of your servant Ailee 
 Asker.” 
 
 With these words the man withdrew, and 
 the Sheikh remained for some time absorbed 
 in thoughts which seemed to be of no comfort- 
 able nature. The morning was advancing, yet 
 the Sheikh had not risen to pursue his usual 
 occupations, and the attendant more than once 
 lifted up the silken curtain to see whether his 
 master might require his services, yet still did 
 he continue in the same attitude of deep re- 
 flection. At length he summoned him to appear. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. Ill 
 
 “ Let Sheer Allee be sent hither / 5 said he, 
 and the man having presented himself, the 
 Sheikh looked at him hard ; but, for a time, 
 the words he would have uttered seemed cleav- 
 ing to his jaws, for he could not, or at least did 
 not speak. At length, as by an effort, he ad- 
 dressed him. “ Your prisoner; he is secure? 5 ’ 
 “ Assuredly, my lord . 55 
 “ What is he now doing ?” 
 
 “ The last time we looked into the cell, he 
 was sleeping soundly . 55 
 
 “ Sleeping ? It were well then that he should 
 not wake. Listen : the man has been need- 
 lessly brought hither to embarrass us. Let 
 him no longer remain a nuisance in our way. 
 A peasant, who has slain your comrades ! Be- 
 gone ! I give you his blood. ” 
 
 “ Be cheshm !’ 5 exclaimed Sheer Allee, and 
 with a bow, he withdrew. 
 
 Had a superficial observer, at that time, re- 
 marked the countenance of the Sheikh-ul-Islam, 
 he might not have detected any symptom of 
 powerful emotion in those stubborn features ; 
 yet his breast, nevertheless, was the seat of an 
 agitation which he could neither control nor 
 comprehend, and for which, he did, in fact, 
 despise himself. 
 
 The life of a man ! What was it ? A toy, 
 a bubble, which he had not the least compunc- 
 tion at breaking or dissipating, as he had done 
 
112 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 with such aiiy nothings, times without number 
 An enemy, too ; one who had crossed his path, 
 and earned his implacable hatred by resisting 
 him in a favourite pursuit ! Hatred was 
 not the least active of the elements that boiled 
 in his bosom, ready to be discharged in a lava- 
 flood of fury upon its object. And yet, whence 
 it came, he knew not ; but there was an inward 
 scruple, an instinctive reluctance, which op- 
 posed the dictates of that wrath, and produced 
 an involuntary hesitation in pronouncing the 
 doom of his victim. 
 
 While musing on this inconsistency of his 
 spirit, he was roused from the mood, into 
 which he had fallen, by the noise of a bustle 
 without ; and after a moment the attendant 
 entered, and whispered some words in the ear 
 of his master, who, awaking from his gloomy 
 reverie, exclaimed, 
 
 “ How ? Allee ? from whence, and for what? 
 what is his business ?’* 
 
 “ That, my lord, he declines to say, but states 
 it to be urgent, and craves immediate ad- 
 mittance/’ 
 
 u Urgent business ?’* muttered the Sheikh, 
 “ and at this time ? But it matters not ; admit 
 him/* And in another minute the purdeh rose, 
 and gave entrance to a figure, who, clad in 
 coarse and travel-stained garments, after the 
 usual salutation, advanced calmly towards the 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 113 
 
 master of the house. It was Allee Neemroo, 
 who, in spite of the traces of haste and exertion 
 that appeared on his outward man, maintained 
 the quiet unruffled demeanour which so strongly 
 characterized him. 
 
 The Sheikh, tendering the salutation of peace 
 and welcome, desired he w’ould be seated, and, 
 in compliance with an expressive gesture from 
 Allee, told the attendant to leave the apart- 
 ment. 
 
 When they were alone, the horse-dealer rose, 
 and reseating himself close in front of the priest, 
 fixed his one expressive eye upon the hard 
 countenance of the other, who, ill at ease al- 
 ready, did not very patiently endure its search- 
 ing glance. 
 
 u It is well, Allee/’ said he ; “ in the name 
 of God, say on ; what has brought thee hither ? 
 What is thy business, and the cause of thy 
 strange behaviour ?” 
 
 66 Then, in the name of God, I will tell you/’ 
 returned the other with solemnity. “ I have 
 come from afar, Mehdee. Nay, frown not at a fa- 
 miliarity which I seldom assume, though now’ it 
 suits the plainness of my purpose. I have come 
 from afar, and in haste, to save more lives than 
 one ; thy ow T n among the number ; and I give 
 thanks to Allah that I come not too late/* 
 
 “ My life! To save my life!” said the 
 Sheikh, with proud scorn ; “ and how comes 
 
114 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 that to be in Allee’s hands, to save or to de- 
 stroy ?’* 
 
 66 That such is the case will in good time 
 become apparent, and the how and the 
 when shall then also be made known "to thee. 
 In the meantime, listen to me. Thou hast 
 taken guilefully, by means of thy servants, in 
 the bazaar of Kermanshah, a youth, the native 
 of a village once 6 the abode of peace/ now’ 
 ruined ; how, thyself perchance mayest know. 
 I demand his life and person / 7 
 
 Thy assurance is equal to thy familiarity, 
 it seems ; and both, Mashallah ! are wonderful, 
 when they are pushed to such a length / 7 re- 
 plied the priest, disguising under a haughty 
 austerity of manner the uneasiness wdiich in 
 truth he felt. “ It might be sufficient were I 
 to deny all knowledge of such a youth, and 
 what then couldst thou have to reply ? But I 
 scorn the falsehood, and avow the fact. He is 
 here, Allee; for his body by this time probably 
 lies deep in the vaults of my humamum : he 
 will find associates there . 57 
 
 “ Thou mayest thank thy fortune, Mehdee, 5 * 
 replied Allee, with unmoved calmness, “ that 
 such is not the case ; for, w T ere it so, thy own 
 doom were sealed. No; happily I reached this 
 place in time to arrest the mandate of death, 
 and the youth still exists. Confirm my act ; 
 command that no hand be laid upon him ; and 
 then listen to my words . 55 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 115 
 
 “ Ay,” said the Sheikh, with darkening brow 
 and threatening accent ; “ has thy audacity, 
 then, reached so high a pitch as to interfere 
 with my commands in my own house ? By 
 Allah ! this must be looked to !” 
 
 “ Be patient, and listen,” said Allee, in a 
 voice and with a gesture of high authority, ar- 
 resting the signal which the priest was about to 
 make for his servants. “ Thou knowest some- 
 thing of me, Mehdee ; or, if thou better likest 
 the title, Sheikh-ul-Islam ; thou knowest that 
 whatever aspect I may wear to the world, my 
 word is sacred ; that in matters of moment I 
 never speak or threaten in vain. Now, I swear 
 to thee by thine own head, and by the might 
 of the Most High, that on the life of that youth 
 depends thine own \ that, so sure as his blood 
 is shed, it shall be paid by thine. I came to 
 prevent this double catastrophe, and now once 
 more conjure thee, as thou regardest thine 
 own life, to refrain from attempting that of 
 Hoossein of Ameenabad.” 
 
 u And I now tell thee, Allee, that were the 
 sword which strikes his neck to cut at the same 
 moment the thread of my life, I would still 
 command it to fall. But I scoff at thy asser- 
 tions, and despise thy threats. The boy hath 
 dared to thwart my will ; a worm hath raised 
 its head to sting me, and shall I not crush it ? 
 By the holy Kaaba, he dies, were it but for the 
 
116 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 satisfaction of learning how his death is to affect 
 my life !** 
 
 “ Then, by the still holier power that sancti- 
 fied that holy Kaaba, he shall not die ; and I, 
 that Allee, whom thou knowest, have sworn it. 
 Nay, rise not; storm not, Mehdee; it is use- 
 less. Bethink thee rather of the days that are 
 past. Remember what thou hast been, and who 
 I am. By the memory of these days, be they 
 bitter or sweet to thee, I conjure thee deny not 
 the request I now make ; for thy own sake, if 
 not for mine. By thine own soul, I seek no 
 quarrel with thee. What profit were that to 
 me ? Be wise, be reasonable, and let such 
 terms be kept between us as may yet subsist. 
 I seek not thy destruction.’* 
 
 Thou dost not ? Mashallah ! thou art 
 kind ! Art thou mad, Allee ? Is thy brain 
 dried up, that thou pratest thus ? Why, what 
 is there to hinder my crushing thee, as well as 
 the insolent dog for whom thou hast so wildly 
 pleaded ?*’ 
 
 “ I will tell thee, Mehdee. If the recollec- 
 tion of those early days were insufficient to 
 check such unprincipled treachery, know that 
 not even in this thy house can thy power or 
 thy commands affect my life. Thinkest thou 
 that 1 would put myself in thy power ? Hast 
 thou seen ‘ ass* so deeply written in this muti- 
 lated visage as to imagine me capable of such 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 117 
 
 weakness ? Be undeceived. Thy power affects 
 not me ; it rests on hollow grounds. The fel- 
 lowship of the wicked is but a rope of sand ; 
 the closed hand gathereth not, and the power 
 based on fear endureth not long. This miser- 
 able person and deformed countenance exercise 
 more real power than the Sheikh-ul-Xslam of 
 Hamadan, with all his influence and retainers, 
 gholaums, moollahs, and eunuchs, in his own 
 city. . Listen, Mehdee ; thou art a bold am- 
 bitious man ; thou hast played an able game, 
 and risen high in the favour of a weak monarch 
 and priest-ridden court. Thy name for sanctity 
 is high, and thou art reverenced by many 
 who know thee not. But that / know thee, 
 thou art well aware. Thou knowest, that 
 I could blast that reputation ; that I could 
 brand thee as — I need not tell you what. Nor 
 does this power rest with me alone. The 
 sword which threatens me is grasped by many 
 hands ; and were aught to befal me, there are 
 those remaining who would not fail to revenge 
 me. The power I wield thou canst neither 
 reach nor avoid. It pervades the air thou 
 breathest, and penetrates the khelwut, the 
 harem, and the mosque. It is not put in 
 motion on slight occasions, but never fails of 
 its purpose. Shouldst thou doubt my word, 
 and ask for proofs, I would ask thee how it 
 came, that, at twenty fursueks 5 distance, I knew 
 
ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 118 
 
 of this youth’s jeopardy ? By what means hav 
 I traced every step of his progress, from the 
 threshold of his own desolate home to his in- 
 carceration in thy prisons ? How did I learn 
 thy own plans and design^, and contrive to be 
 upon the spot to frustrate them ?’* 
 
 “ Allah-il-ullah ! thou art a prophet sure- 
 ly/* responded the Sheikh, with a hollow and 
 scornful laugh, under which it was not difficult 
 to detect uneasiness ; “ or art thou perchance 
 the blessed Mehdee, my holy namesake, praise 
 be to Allah ! who himself has thrown off his 
 veil of concealment, to appear in the august 
 form of Alice Neemroo, and give counsel to 
 his unworthy namesake in his hour of need ? 
 By my own death, our holy prophet himself, 
 to whose name be praise ! could scarcely have 
 come out with a more awful denunciation than 
 thou hast uttered ! But knowest thou, O won- 
 derful man, the misdeeds of this youth, whom 
 thou art so resolute to save from punishment ? 
 Art thou aware that he and his brethren are 
 rebels against the Shah*s authority, and have 
 put to death the Shah’s messengers, that they 
 are condemned by the royal ruckum 
 
 “ I know, that provoked by excessive extor- 
 tion and atrocious insult, these villagers rose in 
 self-defence, and punished their insolent op- 
 pressors. I know too, that on the matter 
 being rightly represented to the Shah, his Ma- 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 119 
 
 jesty granted to the whole of them a full and 
 free pardon. I know moreover, that a doom 
 not less sweeping and terrible than would have 
 been produced by the effects of the royal anger 
 did soon overtake the ill-starred village; and 
 now I find that thou hast set thyself to work to 
 complete the sacrifice of the miserable remains 
 of the survivors/’ 
 
 es Thou knowest much, Allee ; but not, it 
 seems, everything, in spite of thy boasted power. 
 It is true, indeed, as thou hast said, that his 
 majesty the Shah, blinded by false representa- 
 tions, and deceived by the specious words of 
 the Wali of Louristan, did grant a pardon to 
 those rebels of Ameenabad ; but it is not less 
 certain that on further and more authentic re- 
 presentations being laid at the foot of the 
 throne, his majesty indignantly reversed his 
 first decree, and issued forth an order to punish 
 the murderous rebels, and especially to cause 
 destruction to alight upon the youth, who not 
 only bore so conspicuous a part in committing 
 the crime, but who had imposed so grossly on 
 the royal ear/’ 
 
 “ Ay, Mehdee, and is it so ? Then, by the 
 truth of Allee, I can guess to whom this change 
 of favour is owing ; but it shall change again, 
 be sure. So beware thou of acting on the or- 
 der as thou sayest it now stands/’ 
 
 ct Thou doubtest the existence of such an 
 order, then ? Thine eyes shall see it, man ; so 
 
120 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 shalt thou be convinced that things may occur, 
 which thy prophetic spirit cannot reach. Ho, 
 Batchah ! hither.” 
 
 The attendant came, and, at his master’s 
 order, brought before him an ornamented brass 
 bound box, which being opened by a key ap- 
 pended to his bunch of private signets, the 
 priest took from it a small bundle of papers, 
 and, selecting two of a peculiar form and tex- 
 ture, he showed them to Allee. 
 
 The latter, glancing at them, and observing 
 the royal signet, mused for awhile as one in 
 doubt. 
 
 u Ah, miserable weakness !” muttered he, 
 inaudibly. a A broken reed art thou, indeed, 
 to depend on, and blackened shall be the face 
 of him who trusts to thee !” 
 
 He then replied aloud as follows 
 " I am not, as thou knowest, Mehdee, much 
 of a Meerza, nor do I pretend to much expe- 
 rience in documents from the Dewankhaneh ; 
 but this I will say, that, however obtained, thesfc 
 Ruckums betray a manifest inconsistency with 
 each other. The King has been tampered with 
 by fraud, and shall be undeceived. I again de- 
 mand the person of Hoossein of Ameenab&d to 
 be placed in my hands.” 
 
 “ And I tell thee, Allee, it cannot be ; this 
 ruckum which I hold must be obeyed.” 
 
 66 And thinkestthou still to put this youth to 
 death?” 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 121 
 
 “ I mean to do so. Duty to my sovereign, 
 as well as justice to the dead, demand his 
 blood/’ 
 
 “ Then, again, I tell thee that it shall not 
 be ; were it at the sacrifice of my own life, as 
 well as thine, he shall be saved / 5 
 
 “ And I tell thee that I defy thy power, ridi- 
 cule thy threats, and that he shall die.” 
 
 “ Darest thou defy me, Mehdee ? Beware ! 
 Bethink thou yet, and pause. Rememberest thou 
 that dreadful night ? Rememberest thou that 
 scene, and the catastrophe it led to ? I swear 
 to thee, that if thou dost persist in this foul 
 purpose, I will unmask thee. The Shah, the 
 whole court, the people both here and at the 
 capital, shall know the man who has cheated 
 them out of their reverence and high regard. 
 Ruin will overwhelm thee. Thy very coadju- 
 tors at the Durkhaneh and in the mosque, 
 corrupt, rapacious, and bigoted, as they are, 
 must, in self-defence, abandon thee, and be 
 the first to spurn thee ; for their own sakes, 
 they will / 5 
 
 “ And art thou, then, so weak, as to sup- 
 pose me in thy power ? Who is there that will 
 believe thee, Allee ? Is the word of an obscure 
 horse-dealer to weigh against my sacred charac- 
 ter ? Phah ! Thou art a fool, man ! I pity 
 thee !” 
 
 “Is that thy security? Trust not to it, 
 
 VOL. III. G 
 
122 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 Mehdee ! Weak indeed thou must esteem me, 
 and worthy of thy contempt had I trusted in 
 such a matter to the influence of my own poor 
 word. But deceive not thyself. I have other 
 proof, proof not to be resisted either by thee 
 or others; and, to end this warfare, hark in 
 thine ear 99 
 
 And Alice, bending forwards, whispered a 
 few words into the ear of the Sheikh. 
 
 Whatever the import, the effect of these 
 whispered words was decided and instanta- 
 neous. Not even the strong nerves of the 
 Sheikh-ul- Islam could resist the powerful emo- 
 tion they occasioned. The colour fled from his 
 dark and usually ruddy cheek, and gave place 
 to a deadly hue. The closely-compressed lips 
 appeared struggling with a groan, and his whole 
 frame quivered with alarm. He cast a hasty 
 glance around as if to seek for the means of 
 escaping, or more probably of ridding himself 
 violently of his unwelcome visitor ; but he saw 
 that the eye of Allee followed every movement 
 with an eagle’s gaze. He felt that he was 
 baffled, and the conviction of this fact cowed 
 him still more; and thus, glaring on each other, 
 did these two singular men remain for several 
 minutes watching every movement, as two 
 tigers about to spring, or as practised wrestlers 
 seeking for an unguarded point in which to 
 seize their adversaries. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 123 
 
 The Sheikh was the first to speak. Know- 
 ing the man with whom he had to deal, and 
 seeing that neither force nor treachery was 
 likely to avail him anything, he said, “ It is 
 enough ; have it thine own way : to-day is 
 thine, to-morrow may be mine. But dost thou 
 then mean to resist the will of the Shah, as 
 well as the purpose of thy former companion ? 
 Wilt thou commit so pointed an act of rebel- 
 lion V 9 
 
 Allee paused for a moment. I am neither 
 a rebel, nor a countenancer of rebellion , 55 re- 
 plied he. “ All I desire, is to secure the lad’s 
 life. Let him be sent to Ispahan ; let the 
 Shah himself decide upon his fate . 55 
 
 “ It is well , 55 replied the Sheikh ; 66 now thou 
 art reasonable, and we may come to terms. 
 Learn that I am, myself, about to proceed 
 to the court ; and instead of having sen- 
 tence executed here upon the lad, he shall 
 accompany me thither. Thou mayest then 
 act as thou wilt, and use in his favour, 
 what influence thou canst. Will this con- 
 tent thee ? 55 
 
 ec It will, Mehdee, provided thou keepest faith ; 
 and rest assured the smallest act of treachery 
 attempted, will take effect more on thyself, 
 than on him thou wouldst destroy . 55 
 
 A smile of double, and diabolical meaning, 
 
 G 2 
 
124 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 crossed the Sheikh’s features, at these words ; 
 but he made no reply. Whether Allee re- 
 marked it or not was uncertain, but he rose 
 and said, “ It is well, Sheikh-ul-Islam ; and 
 now be pleased to countermand the orders of 
 death, which thou didst give. See that thy 
 prisoner rest in safety beneath thy roof ; and 
 Allah grant thee the same measures of security 
 and peace, which thou dealest to others.” 
 
 “ Be cheshm ! on my eyes be it l" replied the 
 Sheikh. “ Rely upon my word, and so rest 
 thee satisfied.” 
 
 Allee Neemroo, having left the room, the 
 Sheikh-ul-Islam continued gazing at the door- 
 way, by which he departed, with a countenance 
 ominously dark. 
 
 “ Ay, go thy ways, dog !” he muttered 
 through his clenched teeth ; “ Bitterly shalt 
 thou rue this day ! Threatened, defied ! in- 
 sulted in my own house ! — yet powerless to 
 blast the insolent insulter ! The curse of hell 
 wither him ! — but let it be. Women curse — 
 men kill ! The unblest villain — know I not 
 well the power he wields? — Have / not sought 
 to wield it also ; and failing of success, have I 
 not sought to destroy it ? Now foiled in both 
 attempts, the weapon falls upon my own head. 
 Then let it fall ; they will find me no easy 
 prey, and Inshallah ! more than I, may perish 
 by the blow.” 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 125 
 
 Long did the musings of the priest continue, 
 and bursts of rage from time to time betrayed 
 the fierce agitation of his soul ; but at length, 
 he summoned his attendant, and issuing certain 
 orders to him, rose to pursue his ordinary 
 occupations. 
 
126 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 CHAPTER YL 
 
 A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. 
 
 The deep sleep, into which Hoossein had 
 fallen, was broken at length by the noise of the 
 opening of a door. A wandering sunbeam, which 
 found its way into his cheerless cell, informed 
 him that morning was already advanced ; and 
 after rousing his faculties, and collecting his 
 senses, which had been somewhat stupified by 
 his profound repose, he looked up to discover 
 what had caused the noise which awoke him. 
 From a corner of his cell, he saw the figure of 
 a man cautiously approaching ; and bound and 
 helpless, as he was, he started up, impressed 
 with the belief, that his hour had come, and 
 that this was his executioner. Nor was this 
 belief removed by discovering, in the person 
 of his visitant, one of the guards, whom he 
 had seen at Kermanshah, and who has been 
 mentioned by the name of Allee Ask§r. 
 
 Yet the manner of the man did not seem to 
 prognosticate violence ; and Hoossein’s sur- 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 127 
 
 prise was not greater than his satisfaction, 
 when his supposed murderer, first making a 
 signal for silence, produced from a napkin a 
 quantity of victuals, and whispered, “ Eat of 
 these with confidence, and drink freely of the 
 water in this vessel; but taste not what is 
 brought to you by other hands, until you see 
 me again ; do this and fear nothing ; and stay, 
 though I dare not remove your bonds, I will 
 loosen them, so that you may have greater 
 liberty. Be discreet, and God protect you.” 
 
 With these words, he glided from the cell, 
 leaving Hoossein divided between hope and 
 doubt; for though desirous to trust in what 
 sounded like the voice of a friend, he could by 
 no means account for the sudden transmuta 
 tion of a former enemy into a protector. 
 
 With regard to the victuals, however, hunger 
 soon decided the question. There was no 
 living without food, and little difference be- 
 tween death by poison or by hunger. Yet 
 Hoossein yielded less to the cravings of nature 
 than to his own sanguine disposition, which 
 whispered him that he might trust the words 
 of his new friend. With difficulty, for his 
 bonds still restrained him, he contrived to 
 satisfy his appetite, and to conceal in a dark 
 corner, the remains of the food that had been 
 furnished him ; and scarcely had an hour 
 elapsed after so doing, when the door of his 
 
128 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 prison again opened, and his other guard 
 made his appearance with a basket, from which 
 he took food and water. 
 
 cc Here, comrade / 5 said he, affecting a good 
 humoured tone. “ Here is wherewithal to sup- 
 port your strength ; — take heart. Who can 
 tell, but better luck awaits you. Come, let me 
 loosen these fastenings. Inshallah, you may 
 soon get rid of them entirely ; — but how is 
 this ? 55 continued he, his voice changing to 
 alarm and displeasure, “ loosened already ? 
 Who has done this — hah ? 5 ’ 
 
 “ Do you imagine that, since you thrust me 
 into this cell, I have sat down to cry like a 
 woman, or bleat like a lamb, without a struggle 
 for something like freedom ? I have struggled, 
 and to some purpose, as you see. But why 
 don’t you loose me entirely? My arms are 
 stiff and swollen already, and as to escape, that 
 is impossible with these walls around me. One 
 might as well hope to get out of Jehannum ! 55 
 
 “ By no means, comrade ; that is out of the 
 question just now,” replied the man, still evi- 
 dently doubtful about the matter ; u thus much 
 may be permitted, for the rest, patience ! In 
 the meantime, come and eat. Set to — make 
 yourself comfortable. 5 ’ 
 
 u Pardon me, comrade ; I shall eat, no doubt, 
 but you must give me time. I am not used to 
 eat in such harness as this ; and if you won 5 t 
 
THE BUCHT1A REE ADVENTURER. 129 
 
 take it off, I must eat at my leisure; so pray 
 give me the food and leave me in quiet. 5 ’ 
 
 The man cast a suspicious look upon his 
 prisoner, but, at length, set down the victuals 
 and departed, leaving the young man alone to 
 his own cogitations. These were far from 
 comfortable. Had he wanted it before, there 
 was now sufficient evidence that his life was 
 in imminent danger, but this danger was not 
 from open violence, as he, at first, expected ; 
 his life was to be taken treacherously and in 
 secret. He was to perish by poison, not by 
 the executioners sword. There was, then, 
 some influence in operation which controlled 
 his persecutors ; or why else was the latter 
 mode abandoned ? Why was he permitted to 
 exist so long? But the comfort which this 
 idea was calculated to produce was quenched 
 by the reflection of his own powerlessness in 
 the hands of his enemy, exposed, as he was, to 
 the full force of his treacherous attempts, while 
 his friends, far distant, were, probably, ignorant 
 of his imminent peril ; and the thought came 
 over his heart with a chill that nipped the hope 
 which had begun to bud there. 
 
 Drearily passed the day. In the evening 
 his guard looked in again, inquired whether he 
 had finished his meal, which Hoossein had 
 contrived to dispose of out of sight, and after 
 scrutinizing him with a searching eye, again 
 
 G 3 
 
130 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 quitted the cell. By the second hour of night 
 he returned, bringing more food, and inquiring 
 after his captive’s health, with an appearance of 
 interest which gave poignant disgust to his 
 intended victim : for oh, how Hoossein loathed 
 the villain who he knew had come in hopes to 
 hear his dying groans ! But the mind refuses 
 to bear the constant torture of anxiety. The 
 wretch upon the rack, after long suffering, has 
 been known to close his eyes in sleep ; and 
 Hoossein, wearied with fruitless conjecture and 
 busy thought, at length sunk to rest. 
 
 How long he might have continued thus, he 
 knew not ; but he woke under the impression 
 of a frightful dream. He thought he had re- 
 turned, he knew not how, once more to his 
 village home, which smiled as it had done in 
 days when it was prosperous and peaceful, and 
 he was greeted by all the well known faces of 
 those who once dwelt there. There was the good 
 Hadjee; the worthy Moollah 5 the Kerbelai; 
 the village elders; and his young companions 
 came round him as they were wont to do, and 
 greeted him with the frank kindness that cha- 
 racterized their habits and their natures. The 
 maidens, too, were there, with their glad health- 
 ful looks and coy glances ; and she was among 
 them, whose form was so deeply engraven on 
 his heart, his Ausieh, and she smiled upon 
 him, and beckoned him to approach ; but when 
 
THE BUCHTXAREE ADVENTURER. 131 
 
 he sought to do so, an unseen force prevented 
 them from meeting, and he was unable to reach 
 her. 
 
 Sorely did he struggle to overcome the im- 
 palpable obstacle, but each effort still was 
 frustrated. Some ominous shadow would ever 
 fleet between, and he was baffled. First it 
 was the old Hadjee, then the Kerbelai, both 
 strangely distorted in form ; and then came a 
 crowd of wild figures with all who had figured 
 in the late fearful scenes ; his ruffian guards ; 
 Noor Shah with all his tribe of dervishes ; his 
 friend the horse-dealer ; all were mingled 
 together in dim confusion. In vain he sought 
 to fix each passing form, for, as he gazed, they 
 changed and mocked his fancy with a whirl of 
 undefined images. 
 
 At length all seemed to melt into a single 
 figure, which, grim and fearful, rose up, he knew 
 not how, into gigantic size, and threatening him 
 with a dagger brandished in one hand, caught 
 Ausieh in the other with determined grasp. At 
 her shrieks he made an effort to spring for- 
 ward to her aid, when the giant, now become the 
 Sheikh-ul-Islam, aimed a blow, with the dagger, 
 at his head. Stepping backwards to avoid it, he 
 fell powerless to the ground, and awoke, gasp- 
 ing with the gripe of the gigantic hand upon 
 his throat. It was no dream, for a light which 
 burst upon his unclosed eyes, flashed also on 
 
132 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 the figure of a powerful man, whose hand, 
 indeed, was on his throat, and whose knee was 
 just descending on his breast. 
 
 Bound though he still was, the powerful 
 instinct of self-preservation gave Hoossein 
 strength for the occasion ; and, by an effort, he 
 sprang from under the ruffian’s gripe, which 
 had been but imperfectly fastened, and, by the 
 assistance of the fragments against which he 
 had been leaning, gained his feet, and stood 
 with his back to the wall, panting and glaring 
 on his assailant, before the latter, who had 
 been displaced and thrown off by the young 
 man’s sudden movement, could recover his 
 balance. 
 
 “Hah! goor-e-piderit ! is it so? Thou art 
 strong it seems, Mashallah ! But it makes no 
 difference, and will be the worse for thee in the 
 end.” 
 
 “Who art thou, then, man ? and what is thy 
 purpose ?” 
 
 “ Hoh ! hoh ! Thou wouldest know who I 
 am ? good ; thou shalt know. I am Hussun, 
 the son of Allee, and a Pehlewan* of the first 
 class, at your service ; one from whose hands, 
 when once well fastened, no man escapes with 
 life. As for my business with thee, it needs not 
 long to tell. It is to put thee to sleep, youth, 
 
 Prize-fighter, wrestler. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 133 
 
 to fit thee for thy shroud, which that worthy 
 assistant of mine has brought along with him. 
 Come, thou shalt sleep as soundly as ever nurse 
 rocked babe. Hadst thou not struggled like a 
 fool, just now, thou hadst by this time awoke 
 in paradise or Jehannum, and never known 
 how thou earnest to be there. But now 
 thou wilt go to thy place, in either, with 
 thine eyes open. So Bismillah ! the less 
 trouble thou givest me, the better for thyself! 
 Come, be patient then. Takee, hold the lantern 
 up.” 
 
 So saying, the wrestler, striking on his arms 
 and clapping his hands together, after the 
 fashion of these people when about to close 
 with an antagonist, rushed towards his in- 
 tended victim with intent to seize him by the 
 throat. But Hoossein, with a courage and 
 presence of mind, which even the desperate 
 nature of his condition did not deprive him of, 
 watched his time and rapidly lifted his foot, as 
 the ruffian sought to close, struck him so 
 violent a blow in the pit of the stomach, as to 
 throw him backwards on the ground. Hopeless 
 as he was of succour, but resolved never to 
 abandon life while he could struggle for it, the 
 youth now called aloud for aid, and upbraided 
 the baffled ruffian in bitter terms for the 
 cowardice of his attack upon a man bound 
 and unarmed. 
 
134 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 “ May curses seize thee for a misbegotten 
 dog !” exclaimed the enraged wrestler. “Thou 
 shalt pay well for this yet. I will break every 
 bone in thy dirt-defiled carcass, ere thou 
 diest ; so prepare thyself, and try if thou canst 
 again teach Hussun Pehlewan to touch the 
 earth/’ 
 
 With increased fury but greater caution did 
 the ruffian again advance upon, the devoted 
 youth, and in vain did Hoossein now attempt 
 to defend himself. Catching hold of the limb, 
 with which he sought again to keep off his 
 enemy, the experienced Pehlewan easily threw 
 him on the ground, where for a moment, he 
 gazed on his prostrate prey, and vented a laugh 
 of scorn before proceeding to glut his ven- 
 geance. 
 
 Hoossein half stunned by the shock, could 
 no longer struggle against his fate; all, he felt, 
 was now over ; the dungeon would conceal his 
 mangled body, and Ausieh never even hear of 
 his fate — of his efforts to serve her. He closed 
 his eyes in despair. The ruffian’s grasp was 
 again upon his neck. When his ear, almost 
 closed to human sounds, was electrified by a 
 voice which pronounced the words, “ Hold 
 wretch !’* in tones that thrilled through every 
 nerve. In a moment, he felt himself released, 
 and opening his eyes, saw that the Pehlewan 
 had been seized by a man who grappled with 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 135 
 
 him fiercely ; but unable from his bonds to 
 aid the efforts of the friendly stranger, and 
 sickened by the injuries he had sustained, he 
 could only gaze with eagerness upon the deadly 
 struggle. 
 
 The Pehlewan, powerful of limb and w r ell 
 skilled in his trade made fierce resistance, while 
 his opponent, smaller far in size, but active 
 and keen sighted as a lynx, maintained the 
 advantage he appeared to have gained at first, 
 and not only resisted all the giant efforts to 
 disengage himself, but increased the waste of 
 strength and fatigue, which his well chosen 
 grasp produced, by the most skilful twistings 
 of his own body. After a few desperate strug- 
 gles, however, the wrestler finding that he 
 could not disengage himself, attempted to 
 crush his enemy upon the ground, by throwing 
 himself down above him ; but the other with 
 cat-like agility contrived to shift his position 
 so as to fall uppermost, thus forcing his an- 
 tagonist to fall heavily, while he inflicted a 
 desperate blow upon his chest. 
 
 The whole, which like the short but furious 
 contest of two tigers had passed with the 
 rapidity of lightning, was rendered dimly vi- 
 sible by the half expiring lantern, which on 
 the first alarm had been dropped by the 
 wrestler’s assistant. But Hoossein’s attention 
 was forcibly recalled to his own situation by 
 
136 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 the approach of the latter, knife in hand, to 
 complete the unfinished work of his principal. 
 Helpless as he was, the fate of Hoossein would 
 now no doubt have been decided, in spite of 
 the unlooked for aid of his unknown champion, 
 when another agent appeared in the field, and 
 the wretched assistant, dagger and all was 
 dashed to the ground, by the club of one 
 whose fierce glittering eyes, even as seen by 
 the dying light, proclaimed him no other 
 than his late companion and guide Noor 
 Shah. 
 
 “ Enough, look to the light/’ said a voice, 
 which, now quite tranquil and composed, he 
 recognised at once as that of Allee Neemroo ; 
 and the lantern being raised and trimmed, the 
 young man discovered in this friend, the 
 champion who had thus saved his life, and 
 who had just risen from the earth, on which 
 lay the motionless body of the wrestler. 
 Calm and unmoved, as if nothing extra- 
 ordinary had passed, without a feature swollen 
 or distorted, or even a quick drawn breath, 
 did Allee advance towards his young friend, 
 who was gazing on him with immeasurable as- 
 tonishment. 
 
 “ Allah-il-ullah ! then it is thou, best of 
 friends said he, labouring with strong emo- 
 tion. a Thank God for this ! Much as I bless 
 his name for this wonderful deliverance, I am 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 137 
 
 doubly gratified that thou hast been made its 
 instrument \” 
 
 “ Yes, young man, it is your friend ; and he 
 not less than thou thanks the Omnipotent, that 
 he has been permitted to aid thee., thou whose 
 own rash imprudence has so nearly thwarted 
 all the efforts of thy friends to save thee ! Is 
 the state in which I find thee here, the conse- 
 quence of following my counsel or the dic- 
 tates of thine own impatient spirit? But 
 enough, it is past, thy life is now safe ; and 
 though thou wilt still have to bear restraint* 
 it shall at least be accompanied with less dis- 
 comfort than thou hast suffered here. Bis- 
 millah ! rise and follow me.’ 5 
 
 While Allee spoke, Noor Shah had released 
 the arms of Hoossein, who still numbed and 
 sore, could scarcely stand upright. The desire 
 of freedom from his noisome prison, however* 
 lent him strength, and leaning upon Allee* 
 he turned to quit the cell. The discomfited 
 wrestler and his prostrated assistant still lay 
 motionless, whether dead or alive, Hoossein 
 could not judge ; but there they were suffered 
 to remain, while the late prisoner and his 
 friends left the place, and taking their way 
 through several passages and ruinous vaults* 
 reached the open street. 
 
 The dawn had not yet made its appearance, 
 though the crowing of cocks proclaimed it near 
 
138 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 at hand ; but before it broke, or the stillness 
 of early morning was disturbed by the move- 
 ment of a single human being, Hoossein found 
 himself disposed in a comfortable and well- 
 furnished apartment, upon a good bed, where 
 he was left to resume the repose which had 
 been so fearfully interrupted in his late 
 abode. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 139 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE REBUKE. 
 
 Early on the morrow after the event we 
 have just described, the Sheikh-ul-Islam was 
 seated as usual in his khelwut. A slight con- 
 traction of the dark brows alone denoted in- 
 ternal emotion, as he combed his dark and 
 bushy beard, and smoothed his glossy musta- 
 chios. More than once he stopped as if to 
 listen, as some faint and distant noise reached 
 his ear, or fancy might suggest the fall of an 
 approaching footstep. At length he clapped 
 his hands, and the same attendant we have 
 already noticed, pushing aside the purdeh of 
 the entrance, stood before him. 
 
 “ No tidings yet ? has no one come from the 
 prison ?” asked the Sheikh. 
 
 “ No one, my lord/’ replied the attendant. 
 
 ce Strange! what can it mean? Go send to 
 the dungeon at the Hummaum, and learn what 
 the prisoner there is about, and whether 
 
140 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO 
 
 Hussun Pehlewan, or Sheer Allee, has been 
 there. Quick, let me know/’ 
 
 The time which elapsed till the return of 
 the messenger thus despatched, though not 
 exceeding a quarter of an hour, appeared an age 
 to the Sheikh-ul-Islam, whose mind secretly 
 a prey to the terrors of guilt already misgave 
 him, and who apprehended some untoward 
 event. Well might he, who was practising 
 treachery towards others, fear somewhat of the 
 same nature from others towards himself! He 
 knew the man who had now declared himself 
 opposed to his cruel and unprincipled mea- 
 sures, and ruminated, with uneasy anticipations, 
 over his late conversation with the horse- 
 dealer. The countenance of his servant, when 
 he returned, confirmed the Sheikh’s apprehen- 
 sions ; but impatient of an instant’s delay, he 
 sternly demanded to know what had occurred. 
 
 “ My lord,” replied the attendant, “ the 
 messenger declares, that when he went to the 
 prison, he found the door closed and locked, as 
 usual, but on going to the lodging of Sheer 
 Allee, neither he nor the key were to be found, 
 and he has returned to know what my lord 
 would direct to be done.” 
 
 u Let Allee Asker Gholaum be sought for ; 
 and if neither he, nor Sheer Allee can imme- 
 diately be found, let the prison door be broken 
 open.” 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 141 
 
 Having given these orders, the Sheikh 
 smoothing his brow, by an effort which cost 
 him no small pains, turned his attention to 
 other business, and admitted several persons 
 to a morning audience ; the penance paid for 
 popularity by many an aching heart, though 
 less guilty than that of the Sheikh-ul- Islam of 
 Hamadan, which seeks to cloak its hidden ills 
 under the semblance of tranquillity. 
 
 An hour had almost gone by, and the Sheikh 
 was still supporting the inward torture of sus- 
 pense with a placid brow, when the attendant 
 entering, and whispering some words in his 
 ear, he courteously dismissed his auditors, on 
 the plea of urgent business ; and being alone* 
 demanded the cause of the consternation which 
 was painted in his servant’s countenance. 
 
 “ My lord,” replied the man, with some 
 hesitation, your servant desires to be par- 
 doned for the strange and evil news he has to 
 tell. Allee Asker being also out of the way, the 
 messenger having procured assistance pro- 
 ceeded to the prison, and obeyed the order of 
 the Huzoor, in breaking open the door. On 
 entering, they at first neither heard nor saw 
 anything ; silence alone w^as there. Advancing, 
 however, and directing their lanterns around, 
 they discovered two bodies prostrate on the 
 floor ; but on examining them, their hearts 
 turned to water, and their brains were dried up 
 
142 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 with astonishment, at finding them to be those 
 of Hussun Pehlewan, and Sheer Allee !’* 
 
 u How villain? — how sayest thou? Impos- 
 sible r 
 
 “ Pardon your servant, my lord, but it is the 
 truth !” 
 
 “ Allah-il-ullah ! Allah-il-ullah \" muttered 
 the Sheikh. 66 But say on, what more ? How 
 did this happen ? Was the prisoner there ?” 
 “ No, my lord, there was no one else there ; 
 and how the matter happened, who can tell ? 
 Sheer Allee was barely alive, his skull beaten 
 in as with the blow of a mighty club ; his 
 dagger drawn and lying on the ground beside 
 him, just where it had fallen from his hand. 
 He groaned but could not speak. Hussun was 
 stretched near him, senseless and speechless, 
 but without apparent wound. From the torn 
 and twisted condition of his garments, it would 
 seem that he had been struggling hard ; and in 
 truth, my lord, it must have been with Jins, for 
 who is there of the race of Adam, that could 
 have reduced Hussun Pehlewan to the state 
 he now lies in 
 
 66 Jins ? Devils ! Fools \" exclaimed the 
 Sheikh-ul-Islam, in towering indignation. “ Is 
 this the way, then ? Baffled in everything? 
 Shall all the effects of so much prudence and 
 skill, all my well-earned power, all my former 
 fortune to be swept away in a moment, by the 
 
THE BTJCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 143 
 
 breath of one man or devil ! which must he 
 be called ? Go, let Hussun Pehlewan be care- 
 fully tended \ if he return to his senses, let 
 me know — begone V 9 
 
 Left to himself, the Sheikh-ul-Islam fell into 
 a painful fit of musing. The fiery blood 
 coursed rapidly along his veins, kindling 
 his whole frame to fury; yet ever and 
 anon the thrill of doubt and apprehension 
 would shoot through his frame, and chill 
 the moisture that gathered on his brow. There 
 was that within him which whispered 
 danger and defeat ; which told him that the 
 hour of retribution might arrive, and that 
 the blood he had shed, and the ruin he had 
 caused, might yet be visited on his own head. 
 Whence else this sudden turn of fortune 
 against one wdio hitherto had seemed to com- 
 mand his fate, and in a contest with so despica- 
 ble a foe ? Whence the unwonted feeling of 
 depression, which he could not but admit 
 weighed down his very soul ? Yet the haughty 
 spirit still remained erect, and like the fallen 
 angel he scornfully rejected every thought of 
 repentance, and defied alike the powers of 
 earth and Heaven. 
 
 ^ hile still agitated by this tempest of un- 
 holy emotions, the servants again sought ad- 
 mittance, and announced that the horse-dealer 
 desired to have access to the presence. The 
 
144 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 Sheikh started, as if bitten by an adder ; and had 
 he indeed seen and felt the reptile, his loath- 
 ing and dislike could not have been greater 
 than what he really felt, and partly betrayed, 
 while giving permission for the entrance of his 
 enemy. 
 
 The calm and imperturbable demeanour of 
 Allee at all times exercised a powerfully seda- 
 tive influence upon the Sheikh ; and on this 
 occasion, the effect produced was more remark- 
 able from the excited state of fury in which the 
 visitor found him. The hatred, not unmingled 
 with fear which he felt for his quondam friend, 
 was doubtless at this moment particularly 
 strong in his bosom ; yet the exigence of the 
 occasion restored his self-possession, and 
 enabled him to smooth his features so as to 
 receive the horse-dealer with at least the sem- 
 blance of tranquillity. Coldly tendering him the 
 customary salutation, he inquired the cause of 
 this early repetition of his visit, and desired to 
 be made acquainted with his wishes. 
 
 a The cause of this my second, and not very 
 welcome visit, Mehdee, is thine own treachery, 
 and falsehood ; treachery which, as I warned 
 thee, should such be attempted, has recoiled 
 upon thyself, for the loss sustained or yet to 
 be sustained falls on thee alone.” 
 
 “ Barikillah, Allee ! well saith the proverb, 
 that thorns produce not grapes, nor thistles the 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 145 
 
 melons of Ispahan. Thy breeding is shown in 
 thy country. What meanest thou by treachery 
 and falsehood ? Thou eatest dirt, thyself, 
 man ?’* 
 
 “ What mean I, askedest thou ? I will tell 
 thee, Mehdee. I had thy promise, that the 
 life of the youth, Hoossein Kerbelai, should be 
 safe ; that his comfort should be looked to ; 
 and on this assurance, was I content to leave 
 him as a royal prisoner, in thy hands. And 
 how hast thou fulfilled that promise? — not 
 merely by retaining in bonds his already 
 numbed limbs, that he might be powerless to 
 resist attack, but by sending assassins to his 
 prison, to kill him as he slept. That is my 
 meaning; that is what I call treachery and 
 falsehood.’* 
 
 “ Allah ! said I not truly that thou eatest 
 dirt, comrade ?** What know I of these things? 
 — when did I send murderers and assassins to 
 kill in the night ? Thou hast but dreamed all 
 this, or thine ear has been abused by foolish 
 reports. The youth, no doubt, is well in his 
 prison: and for his bonds, if they still gall 
 him, order shall be given for relaxing or remov- 
 ing him. Wullah ! all we require is, that he 
 be secure. Art thou content ?*’ 
 
 “ Content ! Oh ! Mehdee, how hast thou 
 fallen, when thy proud spirit can stoop to 
 falsehoods and subterfuges so gross as these ! 
 
 VOL. III. H 
 
146 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 The youth, Mehdee, is well, he is secure ; for 
 he now is in my power, and not in thine . The 
 Omnipotent, who abandons not the innocent, 
 nor suffers the proud and the unjust to triumph 
 for ever, has seen fit to preserve him, and to 
 smite the assassins who would have murdered 
 him. To tell thee this was the object of my 
 visit, and to warn thee once more that further 
 attempts of this sort will but aggravate thy 
 danger. Yet, shall not my word to thee be 
 broken, for with me, Mehdee, pledges are sacred. 
 The mandate of the Shah shall be respected. 
 Thou goest to Ispahan, the youth shall still 
 accompany thee as prisoner, but not under thy 
 care. I will myself watch over his life until 
 his fate shall, after fair and impartial trial, be 
 determined by the voice of his sovereign. Thou 
 best knowest how thine own character may 
 stand the test of such an investigation. This 
 is what I had to say, and now I leave thee. 
 May Allah turn thy heart to better things, for 
 greatly doth it need a change V 9 
 
 Having said these words, Allee Neemroo 
 rose and quitted the apartment without further 
 question or interruption from the Sheikh-ul- 
 Islam, whose rage and confusion were too great 
 to vent themselves in speech. 
 
 The morning was well advanced, before Hoos- 
 sein started from the deep sleep into which he 
 had fallen. There was a bustle in his apart- 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 147 
 
 ment, and among the voices which were heard 
 his ear was struck by some familiar tones ; but 
 harassed and bewildered, his mind filled with 
 images of the trying scenes that had so lately 
 passed, he could not immediately remember 
 where he was ; and imagining himself beset, he 
 sprung from his couch with purpose to defend 
 himself. His arms, still stiff and sore from the 
 long continued pressure of his bonds, reminded 
 him of his prison and his murderous guards ; 
 and it was not till the well-known voice again 
 spoke, and a form that could not be mistaken 
 rushed towards him, that he comprehended the 
 truth — that it was his own devoted humsheereh , 
 his faithful Caussim, who was clasping his 
 knees and kissing his hands over and over 
 again. 
 
 cc Alhumdulillah ! I see thee again ! Alhum- 
 dulillah ! I see thee again V 9 sobbed he. 66 Ai 
 wahi ! Ai wahi ! what thou hast suffered ! Dust 
 on my head for leaving thee ! Why did I ever 
 consent ? but they shall part us no more, 
 Hoossein, they shall never part us again ¥’ And 
 Hoossein, overcome with emotion, fell on his 
 foster-brother’s neck and wept. 
 
 The entrance of Allee Neemroo put an end 
 to this scene, and after inquiring how his guest 
 had slept, he advised him to refresh himself 
 with a bath, w T hich would remove the pain and 
 fatigue he still felt in his limbs. “ For the 
 
 H 2 
 
148 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 present I must leave you,” said he, u but in the 
 afternoon I shall return, Inshallah ! when we 
 must have some conversation together, and 
 you shall learn something more of what may of 
 late have perplexed you, than could hitherto 
 have been prudently communicated; in the 
 meantime, remain quietly within these walls, 
 where you are safe ; you have seen that danger 
 awaits you beyond them . 55 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 149 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 STORY OF THE HORSE-DEALER. 
 
 In the evening, according to his promise, 
 Allee Neemroo made his appearance, and after 
 sharing with his friend a comfortable meal, 
 and smoking a calleeoon by the side of a cheer- 
 ful fire, turned the discourse upon the subject 
 of his late adventures. “You have had many 
 narrow escapes/ 5 he observed, “ and they ought 
 to teach you greater prudence in future. Had 
 it not been for a more fortunate conjunction of 
 chances, than usually falls to the lot of man, 
 not less than to the power which has been vigi- 
 lant over you, you could not have escaped 
 destruction. But enough of this ; you are de- 
 sirous, I know, to learn the nature of this 
 vigilant influence which has enveloped you 
 ever since you set foot in this city, and which 
 has shaped out many of the events that have of 
 late befallen you, as well as some of earlier 
 occurrence; and I shall now proceed to give 
 
150 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 you more insight into these matters than 
 circumstances before permitted. In order to 
 make matters clear, however, I must begin with 
 some account of myself, and the history of my 
 own early days. 
 
 You have heard that I am a Buchtiaree, 
 and the son of a muleteer ; and this may pos- 
 sibly be true, though I cannot positively affirm 
 the fact. Of my early childhood I have but 
 very confused recollections, and the first I can 
 distinctly recall are of the man whom I called 
 my father, with his mules and yaboos, and our 
 life of constant travelling from one place to 
 another. He was a harsh and brutal man, who 
 made me work hard from the moment I could 
 put my hand to a mule-rope or halter, and who 
 thought nothing of laying over my back the 
 steel chain with which he thrashed his beast, 
 if he saw me idling or disobedient. He fed 
 me well, however ; and though hard work and 
 exposure might somewhat stint my stature, it 
 strengthened my muscles and knit my joints 
 into firmness, while the salubrious exercise of 
 travelling confirmed a naturally strong frame 
 and hardy constitution. 
 
 u I need not repeat what you have already 
 heard of my reputed father’s death, and my 
 own consequent destitution. Nor would the 
 history of my boyish pranks, for the next few 
 years, be worth the time it would take to re- 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 151 
 
 late. The accident, to which I owe the de- 
 formity of this unlucky countenance, was the 
 turning point in my life, for it led to the means 
 of opening and unbrutalizing my mind, already 
 much depraved by the intercourse it had held 
 with the low and unprincipled among mankind ; 
 of pointing out the value of knowledge, and 
 inspiring me with a desire to acquire it ; and, 
 above all, of introducing me to, and uniting me 
 with the agents of a power which has, from the 
 earliest ages, exercised an almost incredible 
 influence over men. 
 
 66 Wounded and bruised almost to death, I 
 was taken up by those who had been my fellow- 
 servants, and laid before the cell of an aged 
 dervish, who, for some time past, had inha- 
 bited the ruins of an Imaunzadeh, near the 
 village, and who had gained great celebrity by 
 the cures he had effected on the sick and 
 wounded in the neighbourhood. He carried 
 me at once, insensible as I was, into his cell, 
 and laying me on his bed of straw and rags, he 
 washed and examined my wounds, fomenting 
 them with a decoction of herbs from his me- 
 dicinal stores. 
 
 66 But not even his skill could avert the 
 fever caused by the severity of the injuries I 
 had sustained, nor preserve the eye, which had 
 been totally destroyed by them, together with 
 much of the substance of my face. It saved 
 
152 
 
 ALLEE NEEMR00, 
 
 my life, however : yet, when after weeks of 
 suffering, during which my host treated me 
 with the most unwearied tenderness, I rose 
 from the dervish’s couch a miserable, hideous 
 object, disgusting to others and loathsome to 
 myself, I scarcely felt disposed to thank the 
 care that had preserved me. My heart was 
 full of bitterness and gall, and I conceived a 
 hatred to the rest of my species, as if they had 
 been accessary to my misfortune, or as if their 
 untarnished beauty, and looks of happiness and 
 unconcern, insulted and derided my deformity. 
 
 “The dervish, whose naturally powerful 
 mind had been enlarged and enlightened by 
 travel and acute observation of mankind, knew 
 well the secret workings of the human breast ; 
 and though deeply versed in the mystic sciences, 
 and given to contemplative study, had not lost 
 sight of the experience he had acquired in the 
 world while pursuing objects of speculative in- 
 quiry. He saw the condition of my mind; 
 and, having healed my body, set himself to 
 cure my mental malady. Taciturn and distant 
 by habit, he seldom spoke without an urgent 
 motive, to express some want, or give vent to 
 some original opinion drawn forth by passing 
 events. By such apothegmatic observations, 
 and apologues suited to the occasion, rather 
 than by reasoning and remonstrance, did he 
 seek to effect his purpose; and, in so doing. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 153 
 
 he evinced his wisdom and just perception of 
 character; for, at that time I was foolish and 
 wayward, and my wounded spirit would have 
 secretly spurned formal reproof, even had 
 respect for my preserver induced me to receive 
 it from his lips with seeming humility. 
 
 “ He pointed out to me, in this way, the 
 absurdity of measuring the value of men by 
 their external appearances, quoted to me the 
 examples of Locman and Xllij Guz, # the Atta 
 Beg, and others, who, rejected by the super- 
 ficial judgments of common men, had justified 
 the discrimination of their more keen sighted 
 patrons, and proved their title to the highest 
 esteem of mankind. He pointed out from this 
 the importance not only of appreciating the 
 worth of others by some equitable standard, 
 but of learning to arrive at a correct estimate 
 of ourselves, and taught me to treat wdth con- 
 tempt or indifference the opinions of the fools 
 and knaves who make up the bulk of mankind. 
 
 “‘You wince,’ w r ould he say, ‘ under the 
 contemptuous glance or commiserating look of 
 one of those village churls ; do you then admit 
 their superiority in aught but external appear- 
 ance ? Are they even stronger than you are 
 for your years ? Are you not able to perform 
 
 * Founder of the race of Attabegs of Azerbijan, who rose 
 to the rank of a prince from that of a slave. 
 
 H 3 
 
154 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 every feat that they can do, and more ? And 
 as to mental qualifications, do you not feel that, 
 were fortune to raise you to a higher condition 
 in life, you have powers that would maintain 
 you there, while their conduct under a similar 
 change, would mark them out as base preten- 
 ders and misplaced usurpers ? I know you, 
 Allee, and I can read resolution and decision in 
 your mind. There are points in your character 
 which may tell against success, but you have 
 talents and mental powers sufficient, if duly 
 brought into action, to raise you to any height 
 you please/ 
 
 His lessons were not fruitless. Confidence 
 returned to my soul, but bitterness would not 
 depart from it ; I felt as one deserted by my 
 species, a creature alone in a hostile world. I 
 remembered the hardships of my youth, the 
 persecutions I had endured from my fellow 
 servants, their desertion of me at the moment 
 of my worst need. I judged of mankind gene- 
 rally by these unfair examples, and felt rather 
 a hostility towards them than any desire to 
 mix with them again. As for my preserver, 
 the dervish, I regarded him as one of another 
 world, separated from that of my enemies of 
 mankind as widely as if he dwelt in another 
 sphere. I loved him with enthusiasm, I would 
 have died to do him service. He saw the mor- 
 bid feeling that was consuming my soul, and 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 155 
 
 reasoned with me on my perverseness ; I ad- 
 mitted the fact, and bowed to his rebuke, but 
 declared that to alter was impossible. Soured 
 and disappointed, I sought to fly the world 
 rather than live in it. The life of my friend 
 pleased me, and respecting and loving him as I 
 did, I earnestly desired to resemble him in all 
 things, and intimated this wish to him, and 
 proposed to become his disciple and to turn 
 dervish. 
 
 “The dervish, who was known by the ap- 
 pellation of Sheikh-Abd-ul-Kader, shook his 
 head at this proposal. ‘You know not what 
 you desire, my son,’ said he; { disgusted with 
 your own lot, and living with me as you have 
 done in peace, you believe my life to be tranquil 
 and free from care and trouble, and therefore 
 would embrace a similar one. It is the igno- 
 rance of inexperience that prompts you to this 
 desire; you judge alone by what appears, for- 
 getting what may be unseen. He, who delights 
 in the bloom of the garden and revels in its 
 fruits, knows little of the toil and pains which 
 these flowers and fruits have cost. The youth, 
 who gazes on the grandeur of the court, envies 
 the monarch who commands that dazzling pomp 
 and power ; but thinks not of the cares that 
 plant thorns on the royal pillow, of the dan- 
 gers that hang unseen over the regal diadem. 
 Thus the novice, who gazes on the unruffled 
 
156 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 brow of his teacher, forgets the years of painful 
 study, of penance, of fasting, and of prayer 
 required to produce that heavenly calm of mind, 
 which sets its impress on the tranquil counte- 
 nance. Believe me, my son, thy mind is of 
 too active a character to do without the world, 
 and the world, in its turn, has its claims upon 
 an ardent genius like thine.’ 
 
 “ ‘ I know not father,’ replied I, f what you 
 mean by abandoning the world ; I see that you 
 as well as many other dervishes and fakeers, 
 so far from quitting the world, appear not only 
 to live in it, but to enjoy it, and that without 
 the cares and dangers which imbitter it to 
 other men/ 
 
 tfC ‘Ay, my son, thus it is, just as I have 
 said, that men judge superficially and falsely. 
 Many a dervish and fakeer there is who has 
 nothing of his profession beyond the taj and 
 Tdrkhah .* The leopards skin and ashes cover 
 many an idle and worthless pretender, whom 
 laziness and sloth, not love of truth and 
 virtue, have led to abandon the active pursuits 
 of life ; and many a sensual abandoned hypo- 
 crite, many an impudent cheat and unprincipled 
 pretender, takes privilege under the matted 
 locks or cotton cap, to roam abroad at will, 
 existing on the charity, or preying upon the 
 
 * Dervishes cap and vest of rags. 
 
THE BUCHTI AREE ADVENTURER. 157 
 
 weakness of mankind; enjoying the passing 
 hour without thought for the next has so 
 many charms for the idle or the vicious, that 
 any form or mode of life, which promises such 
 advantages, is eagerly embraced by men with- 
 out principle or reflection. But call not these 
 dervishes, nor believe that such a life can lead 
 to real happiness of mind or ease of body. 
 When the mind is debased, indeed, by sensual 
 grovelling pleasures, these may, for a season, 
 be enjoyed, as they are by the beasts that 
 perish ; but like them, too, shall such men 
 perish miserably, and being forgotten in this 
 world, shall have their portion for ever in the 
 unknown horrors of the next. No, my son, the 
 true dervish has other objects of desire. The 
 mind, which is fixed upon the glories of the 
 Omnipotent, and that pants for heavenly know- 
 ledge, regards with contempt the objects of 
 human passion ; and however a man of this 
 order may mingle with his fellow mortals, 
 his spirit, abstracted from the busy scene around 
 him, is fixed on his Creator alone ! 
 
 “ 6 Remember, my son, the great objects of 
 the true Sooffee is truth, that truth which 
 dwells in God, and, emanating from him, is 
 diffused throughout his whole creation, ex- 
 isting every where and in every thing. You will 
 say, why seek what is obvious and universal } 
 But the weakness and wickedness of our terres- 
 
158 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 trial nature continually tend to obscure the 
 divine image, and obstruct the efforts of the 
 soul to mingle with, and ultimately to rejoin its 
 glorious original. To vanquish in this conflict, 
 to purge away the grosser earthly and erring 
 dross, so that the soul may mount unfettered, 
 and flee unchecked, and fitted to re-unite with 
 the parent all-creating essence; this is the 
 business of the Sooffee upon earth, and it is an 
 arduous and terrible warfare ; the spirit against 
 its earthly tabernacle. A whole age of self- 
 restraint and penance, of rigid fasting and con- 
 tinual prayer, of self-inflicted tortures and 
 abstinence the most austere has often been 
 endured, in vain, by the most zealous disciples. 
 
 “ Often has the frail vessel of clay given way 
 and been dissolved under the searching ordeal ; 
 and even when that ordeal has been success- 
 fully sustained, the spirit has been so tried 
 with various disappointments, that the brain has 
 been bewildered, and the sore-tried aspirant 
 has fallen into the horrors of despair. Such is 
 the trial, such the fearful conflict to which 
 thou, my son, wouldst expose thyself, overlook- 
 ing, like too many others of thy age, the perils 
 of the course, and seeing only the prize of 
 perfect peace, and joy, and power, which is the 
 reward of conquest ; forgetting also that this 
 ineffable and exalted bliss is unappreciable, 
 intangible, by those who have not fitted them- 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 159 
 
 selves for its enjoyment by the previous and 
 needful preparation. 
 
 “ 6 It is from the utter extinction of ail 
 worldly feelings in the breast of the Arufeh,* 
 that he becomes susceptible of the enjoyment of 
 this bliss ; and those alone, who have endured 
 that process of mortification, can taste the 
 delights it bestows. The perfected dervish 
 mingles with the world not as taking share in 
 its unholy works and vanities, but to perform 
 the part assigned him by his Maker, in improv- 
 ing the condition of his brother worms of 
 mankind, in alleviating their distresses, en- 
 lightening their ignorance ; and while receiving 
 from them the pittance required for the sus- 
 tenance of his terrestrial frame, bestowing on 
 them the far more important benefits which he 
 has been commissioned and qualified to dispense 
 among the children of Adam. He is free from 
 solicitude, not only because he has no worldly 
 w r ealth to lose, but because, happen what will, 
 his sources of happiness are beyond the reach 
 of fate ; and death itself can but lead to a more 
 perfect re-union of his soul with the eternal 
 source from which it emanated at first. 
 
 a And now, my son, that I have in some 
 sort described the profession and prospects of 
 a true dervish as they ought to be, thinkest 
 
 * Or men of knowledge , a high degree in Sooffeeism. 
 
160 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 thou that it is a path which thou art suited to 
 pursue ?’ 
 
 “ 6 But , father/ replied T after a pause of 
 some minutes, during which I hastily reflected 
 on all which the old man had been saying ; * the 
 dervish has surely other objects and pursuits 
 than those which thou hast just described ? 
 Many of those whom we see, among them thyself, 
 assuredly are men of great learning, skilled in 
 many useful and curious arts. They are travellers, 
 too, who have visited remote lands, and seen the 
 wonders of Allah in every quarter of the world. 
 It seems to me that I could bear much, were it 
 to lead to such knowledge and experience . 5 
 
 66 * It is true, my son, that learning and 
 science are among the objects of the dervish; 
 but they are to be sought for only as means to 
 an end. Many, no doubt, lose sight, unfor- 
 tunately, of that end, in attaining the means 
 only, and pursue the search beyond the due 
 bounds of prudence. Thus men have become 
 dazzled by the charms of magic, and been led 
 to form compacts with unholy spirits, jins 
 and afreets — creatures both above and below 
 the nature of the children of Adam; powerful 
 servants when subjected by, and, in the holy 
 name, — terrible masters when empowered in 
 wrath to become the instruments of punish- 
 ment for evil deeds. 
 
 “ c As for travelling, it is the duty of the 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. ] 61 
 
 dervish. The study of the Creator’s works, the 
 wonders of his arm in many lands, are his true 
 and proper exercises ; but this does not super- 
 sede and ought not to interfere with the higher 
 duties of contemplation, and fasting and prayer 
 — of Tepessieh in short, which alone could fit 
 the student’s mind for rising to the higher 
 states of perfection, and to the beatification he 
 aspires to enjoy. Nay, more, should they 
 be sought for purposes of amusement and 
 the gratification of curiosity, losing sight of 
 the great and ultimate object of all his efforts, 
 the unworthy aspirant will be thrown back in 
 his career. Ponder then, my son, and decide 
 not hastily or rashly. Reflect on what I have 
 said; consider it well, and then come to me 
 again !’ 
 
 “ The words of the dervish had, no doubt, 
 furnished me with food for thought. There 
 was something so sincere and earnest in his 
 manner, so much of holy ardour and mysteri- 
 ous solemnity in the character of his discourse, 
 that I was deeply impressed by every thing 
 he said. All the enthusiasm in my nature 
 was roused. I felt that I was capable of 
 penance, fasting, torture — any thing to gain the 
 high reward which the dervish had so mys- 
 tically described. 
 
 “ It is true that the delights of travelling, 
 of seeing wonders, of dark mysterious sciences. 
 
162 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 and even of power over the creatures of fire 
 and air, and the knowledge of hidden things, 
 were mixed up with those purer aspirations ; 
 but there was a grandeur in the aggregate that 
 acted like a charm upon my young and inex- 
 perienced mind, and confirmed me in my 
 resolution to become the Mooreed of my good 
 friend Sheikh-Abd-ul-Kader, and to rise, Insh- 
 allah ! to the highest grades of Sooffeeism ; to 
 become myself a Khaleefah * in good time. 
 Thus excited, my resolution was soon formed, 
 and after waiting for a full day, that my resolve 
 might not appear too sudden or inconsiderate in 
 his eyes I declared to my friend that I was ready 
 to enter at once on my noviciate, to endure all 
 privations, and submit to all penances, in the 
 hopes of attaining the reward to which all der- 
 vishes aspired, the knowledge of, and identifica- 
 tion with the truth . That I should henceforth 
 Inshallah ! regard him as my peer , f and my- 
 self as his humblest and most devoted mooreed . 
 
 “ The Sheikh received the expression of my 
 determination with the calm and sedate, yet 
 benevolent demeanour, which was one of his 
 marked characteristics. Well my son/ said 
 he, thou hast chosen a thorny path. Allah 
 grant thou repent not the choice ! I cannot 
 clear away the thorns ; but I will do my best 
 
 * A teacher of the first order. 
 
 t Religious instructor and disciple. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 163 
 
 to aid thee in securing the rose of heavenly 
 peace and truth, which grows beyond them for 
 the virtuous and the persevering, in the Para- 
 dise to which it leads. From this time ac- 
 cordingly, my master directed his conversation 
 to subjects connected with the doctrines of the 
 sect to which he belonged, and endeavoured 
 to imbue me with a fuller conception of the 
 exalted aspirations, which should fill the breast 
 of sincere and resolved disciples. I listened 
 to him with interest and reverence, though I 
 cannot deny, that my mind would sometimes 
 experience a throe of impatience for possession 
 of the secret and mysterious knowledge, for 
 which I had always sighed ; and I longed for 
 the time when the Sheikh might see fit to in- 
 dulge the love of travel and adventure, which 
 burned in my breast. 
 
 “ This last wish, at least, was not long unful- 
 filled. The Sheikh one day informed me, that 
 he was about to quit the abode, where he had 
 now sojourned for two years ; and that his in- 
 tention was to proceed to the eastward. To 
 the east ! I was overjoyed. The east, was to 
 my uninformed apprehension, a land of luxury 
 and wonder, the abode of everything dazzling 
 and delightful. India, Kathay, and I know 
 not what other mysterious and magnificent 
 countries, lay all in the east. With what 
 alacrity then did I prepare to follow my 
 
164 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 master thither ? Few preparations indeed were 
 required, all that we had or wanted we carried on 
 our persons. The dress I had worn as an at- 
 tendant on my late master, was exchanged for 
 one more suitable to the new profession I had 
 chosen : a water vessel of the sea cocoa nut 
 shell, a nargilleh or pipe, with tobacco and 
 other smoking apparatus, a wallet for food, a 
 small iron pot to dress it in, sandals on our 
 feet, and stout iron-shod clubs in our hands; 
 these with a few simples and strings of holy 
 beads, formed our equipment, and forth we 
 walked on a delicious autumnal morning, with 
 our faces set to the east. 
 
 a I never shall forget the sensations of that 
 hour; calmly and peacefully as my life had 
 passed for the few previous months, and sin- 
 cerely as I was attached to the excellent and 
 venerable sage who had preserved it, I could 
 not help feeling that it was a state of virtual 
 thraldom, a repose utterly at variance with my 
 active restless spirit. I had fretted in secret, 
 under the unwelcome restraint, and now hailed 
 with keen delight the prospect of release. The 
 cold grey light of dawn was yielding to the 
 warmer tints, which the sun, still hid behind 
 the eastern mountains, shot up towards the 
 zenith, as the Sheikh who had passed much of 
 the night in contemplation, took the last long 
 whiff of his nargilleh, and handing it to me, 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 165 
 
 rose from his seat, and with a muttered prayer, 
 pronounced the Bismillah ! 
 
 “ Out we sallied ; and I could scarcely refrain 
 from relieving my pent up spirits, by running 
 and leaping like a boy. A boy ! and what else 
 in truth was I then? Since that time how 
 much has passed to sober the exuberant spirits. 
 How much of pain and misery, ay, and of 
 crime too, with its never failing follower, re- 
 morse ! But enough of this. On w^e w r ent 
 visiting the towns and cities of Khorasan, in 
 each of which we dwelt some days, meeting in 
 all some brethren of our order, w T ho received 
 my master with profound respect. 
 
 66 At Meshed, the holy, as it is called, we 
 found a multitude of religious ascetics, and 
 mendicants of every denomination ; but far 
 more of pretenders, than sincere followers of 
 their profession. Many of them were in dis- 
 guise, for in a place the very centre of what is 
 termed orthodox religion, the home of priests 
 and Moollahs, the strong-hold of bigotry and 
 intolerance, it seldom can be safe for one op- 
 posed, or thought to be so, to such. persons 
 and their opinions, to appear openly; but I 
 found that the several orders had their own 
 means of recognising one another, and holding 
 constant communication together; and it be- 
 came clear to me, that much w T as passing 
 among them, which had not always reference 
 to their religious exercises and profession.” 
 
166 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 “ Here too, I had occasion to see much of 
 the habits of those rogues and impostors who, 
 from indolence or love of ease and pleasure, 
 assume the habits of the dervish ; and I ought 
 to blush to say, that the joyous recklessness of 
 their mode of life, and the amusing and wicked 
 adventures which they had encountered accord- 
 ing to their own accounts, had often the effect 
 of giving me a wish to join them: but the 
 powerful hold which my own Sheikh still pos- 
 sessed over my mind and my affections, and 
 which kept alive my better resolves, preserved 
 me, for the time, from falling into the snares 
 that were so thickly set around me. 
 
 “ I left Mushed with some reluctance, for 
 there was much in the place that arrested my 
 fancy, and afforded food for observation. Our 
 next stage was Herat, which in some respects 
 offered a still wider and more attractive field, 
 in as much as the place was larger and richer, 
 and the treasures of both east and west might 
 be seen in its bazaars. But to me, whose object 
 was to regard man rather than inanimate matter, 
 and who loved to study character rather than 
 to lounge in a dazzling market place, Mushed 
 was on the whole a scene of greater interest. 
 Still advancing eastward, we passed the Door- 
 aunee country to Kandahar, where the scene 
 in some degree was altered, and the Hindoo 
 garb, which at Herat appeared but here and 
 there among the crowd, became more frequent 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 167 
 
 and we found many of the Indian ascetics, 
 whose peculiarities and extraordinary self- 
 inflicted penances are so well known and 
 wonderful. 
 
 “ Among the first of those we saw, was a 
 man whose only covering was a thick smear- 
 ing of ashes, with matted hair which hung 
 down his back, and a rope of hair around his 
 waist. He was a tall gaunt figure, who had 
 carried his right arm raised perpendicularly up 
 until it had stiffened and withered in that posi- 
 tion, while the nails of his fingers had grown 
 through the clenched hand. I have seen many 
 and far more hideous objects of the kind since 
 then, but none whose appearance made a 
 stronger impression on me. The language of 
 these people formed a bar to free intercourse 
 on my part, but my master, and those of our 
 order more advanced, were able, I could see, 
 to communicate with them upon points of 
 mystic knowledge. 
 
 To detail to you our course and adventures, 
 as we continued our progress towards Hindoo- 
 stan, would occupy more time than I can now 
 spare, or you would be inclined to bestow upon 
 the narrative. We took our way through the 
 southern Affghan tribes, were generally well re 
 ceived, always remunerating our hosts with some 
 advice or aid to their sick ; and after visiting 
 Shikarpore, we held up the stream to Moult&n. 
 
168 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 From thence we returned to Bhawulpore, and 
 crossed the desert by Bhutnere and Hissar to 
 Shahjehanabad,* the magnificent capital of 
 the descendants of Timoor. 
 
 “ There, at this time,' reigned the mighty 
 Aurungzebe, the greatest monarch of his time; 
 a strict ascetic and bigoted religionist himself, 
 but a determined foe to all orders of fakeers and 
 dervishes, whose enthusiastic hostility had more 
 than once shaken his very throne; yet strange 
 and inconsistent as it may sound, it was no 
 uncommon thing for this strictly orthodox 
 monarch, himself, to visit certain saints and 
 AuliaS ) t who though bred up in, and possessing 
 the Mahomedan faith, had in reality, by study 
 and contemplation attained to the light of truth, 
 and were Sooffees of the most accomplished 
 class. 
 
 cff A monarch like Aurungzebe, and a court 
 like that of Dehlee, offered matter the most 
 interesting for philosophical inquiry ; and the 
 Moghul capital detained us long within its 
 precincts. Austere in disposition, and simple 
 to excess in his habits, there was less of state 
 and show to meet the eye than of real power 
 and riches ; and it was instructive to mark how 
 the tone of order, regularity, and promptness, 
 given by the sovereign, pervaded every rank 
 
 * The Mahomedan name for Dehlee. 
 
 + One of the highest grades among religious ascetics. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 169 
 
 and office down to the lowest functionary. 
 Here too, did we meet with numbers of these 
 extraordinary ascetics and exemplary sages, 
 who in spite of the dangers arising from the 
 monarch’s bigotry, flocked to the numerous 
 shrines of Dehlee and took up their abode 
 among the ruinous relics of its ancient great- 
 ness. The wonders of the capital were in- 
 exhaustible; but nothing was more striking 
 than the habits and histories of these remarkable 
 religious mendicants, who, far more numerous, 
 though less widely spread abroad than in 
 Persia, congregate in armies of thousands and 
 tens of thousands, and dispute the sway with 
 princes and with emperors. Here was food 
 for a novice ! Truly, Hindoostan is the very 
 birth-place and strong-hold of Sooffeeism. 
 
 “ Pursuing the great object of my Peer, the 
 search after divine truth, and intercourse with 
 those who had made thegreatest progress towards 
 its attainment, we proceeded to perambulate 
 Hindostan, visiting Ajmere, which was the 
 residence of a celebrated Aulia, and the 
 celebrated Pokhur, not far distant. From 
 thence we returned to Multra, and Binderabun, 
 where we saw abundance of Hindoo ascetics ; 
 but the greater part of them were little better 
 than brutes, besotted, ignorant bigots, and 
 devoid of even the smallest disposition to 
 philosophical inquiry. 
 
 VOL. in. 
 
 i 
 
170 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 “ Our success at Benares, whither we next 
 bent our way, was not much more satisfactory. 
 We found, indeed, men whose austerities, and 
 endurance of extreme self-inflicted penance, 
 had divested them almost' of the appearance of 
 humanity. One was stretched upon a bed of 
 nails, where for years he had lain, borne about 
 upon the shoulders of his disciples. Another 
 had worn a deep hole in his forehead, by beat- 
 ing it twice every day, a certain number of 
 times upon one of the sacred Lingams of a 
 certain temple. Another had placed himself 
 for years upright in a pagoda, upon his hands, 
 instead of his feet, with his head down, and 
 his heels in the air, where his disciples fed 
 him by means of suction through a tube, and 
 his limbs were all stiffened into perfect rigidity, 
 by the length of time they had remained in this 
 painful posture. As for the numbers who had 
 deformed their limbs and arms, and bodies, by 
 various fantastical contortions, they were 
 beyond all reckoning. 
 
 “But after all, these were impostors, or mad- 
 men, after their sort, subjecting themselves to 
 such tortures rather to make the world stare, 
 and gain a reputation for sanctity, than from a 
 genuine spirit of devotion, or a resolution to 
 humble the proud heart, and purge away the 
 dross of human passion, to fit the soul for 
 converse with its Maker. Some few were 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 1 7 i 
 
 found, it is true, who, Hindoos though they 
 were, and though born in the fetters of Brahman 
 idolatry, had souls superior to their condition, 
 and dared to search for truth beyond the pre- 
 cincts of the Pagoda, and the narrow dog- 
 mas of their faith. With these the Sheikh 
 held many an interesting colloquy. But these 
 bore no proportion to the concourse of fanatics, 
 who thronged this first of Hindoo cities ; 
 leaving it, therefore, we once more turned our 
 faces westward, with intent to complete our pil- 
 grimage by a more northern route. 
 
 “ Little of interest occurred for some time, 
 until having again passed through Dehlee, we 
 held our way towards the Punjab, where that 
 remarkable sect of Seceders, from the Hindoo 
 paganism, named the Sikhs, or Sings, still 
 maintained their existence and religious 
 liberty, against the power of Aurungzebe him- 
 self. At this period, their warlike leader, 
 Gooroo Govind, their prophet, teacher, and 
 ruler, was with indomitable courage and per- 
 severance, struggling against a force which 
 ought to have been able to crush him into dust. 
 This personage, although the spiritual leader 
 of his sect, was, in fact, nothing else at bottom, 
 than a Sooffee of the first grade, who born to 
 rule a small and insulated body of followers, 
 and knowing well that this was only to be done, 
 through the means of some peculiar system of 
 
 i 2 
 
172 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 belief, ingrafted his own warlike doctrines upon 
 those of his predecessor, Nanak, and thus es~ 
 tablished his authority upon the secure basis of 
 religious enthusiasm. 
 
 “ When we arrived at Loodheana, we found 
 that the Gooroo was at Makawul, whither we 
 accordingly directed our steps, as an interview 
 with the ruler of this rising sect, was particu- 
 larly desired by my Peer. We found him 
 preparing to resist a fresh attack from the 
 Moghul troops, surrounded by his Akhalees, 
 or immortals/’ a set of fanatics, resembling 
 and probably composed of the several orders 
 of Hindoo fakeers, the Jogees, the Byragees, 
 the Sunyassees, who so frequently unite* to- 
 gether in Hindostan, and who having embraced 
 the Sikh faith retain the wild enthusiasm of 
 their former character, in their new condition. 
 
 “ The Gooroo was simply clad in blue, the 
 sacred colour of his sect. His hand rested on 
 the steel hilted sword, and a dagger mounted 
 with the same was at his waist. Neither or- 
 nament, nor jewel did he wear; but his keen 
 eye sparkled with intense lustre from beneath 
 his lofty brow, above which rose a high turban, 
 covering the greater portion of his long and 
 cherished hair. All was plain and homely. 
 Nothing sparkled about his own person, or 
 those of his followers, but the bright steel to 
 which they trusted for existence, and for 
 victory. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 173 
 
 His reception of the Sheikh was frank and 
 cordial. A. few sentences appeared to establish 
 a perfect understanding between them ; and we 
 remained at Makhawul for several days his 
 guests. But the gloomy bigotry of the Em- 
 peror could not permit a band of sectaries like 
 the Sikhs, neither Mussulmauns, nor Hindoos, 
 to rest in peace. At the approach of a mighty 
 army, under command of one of his sons, the 
 Gooroo and his adherents were forced to quit 
 Makhawul, and retire further into the moun- 
 tains, and we pursued our way to the favourite 
 valley of Cashmere. In this delightful place, 
 although so eminently calculated for ravishing 
 the senses, and seducing the hermit from the 
 contemplation of his Maker, there were many 
 zealous ascetics, who rigidly subjected them 
 selves to the severest penances, and endured the 
 most continued fasts, insomuch that they 
 resembled skeletons rather than living men, 
 but who had by these means, attained to a 
 high celebrity and influence among the Sooffee 
 saints. Some of these had numerous disciples, 
 and many religious men and learned philoso- 
 phers came from distant parts to listen to their 
 precepts. 
 
 Here, too, it was, that first we met some 
 of the Roushuneah , a sect who take their 
 origin from Bayazeed, a celebrated Sooffee 
 doctor of the days of Akber Padshah, and who 
 
174 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 occasioned serious alarm to that monarch in 
 Affghanistan. Few, indeed, have ever made 
 more profound or successful researches into the 
 deep mysteries of Divine truth ; and though 
 his name has been dishonoured by men, who 
 were too gross and corrupt themselves to com- 
 prehend his worth, it has left behind it a bright- 
 ness which still gives light to his faithful 
 followers. Such, at least, is the opinion of 
 some of the most erudite Sooffee Sheikhs of 
 this day. 
 
 “ Among the fakeers who frequented the 
 shrine of a celebrated Mahomedan Saint, 
 situated in a remote angle of the valley, there 
 was one whose blue eyes, light complexion and 
 powerful frame, as well as the peculiar form of 
 his features, proclaimed him for an Affghan, 
 and who appeared strongly disposed to court 
 the Sheikh’s society. It soon came out that 
 he was one of the Roushuneah, and that, like 
 ourselves, he was on his return, after a pil- 
 grimage, to the principal shrine of the founder 
 of his sect, which he vaunted to us as being 
 the resort of many learned and pious Sooffees. 
 It so happened that one of the objects of my 
 Peer, in taking the route we had pursued, was 
 to communicate with the leaders of this sect, 
 and to visit their principal place of resort ; so 
 that the offer of this person to conduct us as 
 guide through a country so familiar to him, met 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 175 
 
 ready acquiescence, and after a few days we 
 left Cashmere, for Futehpoor, of Hesht- 
 nugger where Bayazeed, their peer and founder, 
 died and was buried. His tomb, never mag- 
 nificent, has now fallen into decay ; and indeed, 
 the vulgar deny that his bones rest here at all. 
 It is related that his son Sheikh Omar disinterred 
 them, and carried them about with him as a pro- 
 tecting talisman in all his undertakings, and when 
 he himself was defeated and put to death by the 
 Moghuls, these relics of his father were irre- 
 verently thrown into the Sinde. 
 
 “ But his followers assert, that despite this 
 sacrilege, the august bones were miraculously 
 reconveyed to their original resting place, and 
 were found there, surrounded by a halo of light 
 which continued to illuminate the place for a 
 month after the event. Be this as it may, the 
 tomb, a small Goombuz , or dome, covering 
 several small chambers, was now in ruins, but 
 we found that it communicated with an exten- 
 sive range of vaulted caverns known, or at least 
 frequented, only by devotees of the sect, and 
 their disciples. 
 
 “ On arriving there, we were introduced by 
 our guide, who presented us to the principal 
 Khaleefah , and made us acquainted with the 
 ways of the place. Never shall I forget the 
 effect which the sight of these regions of 
 gloom had upon me. Long vaulted passages 
 
176 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 dimly lighted by a small iron lamp placed here 
 and there, or by a wandering ray of daylight 
 admitted through a fissure from above, gave 
 access to cells of different sizes, but all alike 
 dark and dismal. 
 
 “The damp walls were clothed only with 
 the slime of constant moisture, which dropped 
 on the floors of earth or rock, and nourished 
 abundance of noisome reptiles, for whose 
 abode alone, it might be thought the place 
 was fit: no dungeon for a criminal could be 
 more loathsome. Yet none could say that the 
 inmates were unsuited to their dwelling. I 
 had seen in various parts of Hindostan, as I 
 conceived, whatever was terrible or disgusting in 
 devotional discipline; yet here were congre- 
 gated a crowd of fanatics, which Benares itself 
 could scarcely have equalled ; for this was the 
 secret retreat where all aspirants to the higher 
 mysteries of the sect assembled to perform 
 their probationary exercises and penances. 
 
 “ Here was to be seen the performance of 
 Tepessieh in all its forms and stages. In one 
 cell might be seen a man of powerful frame, 
 entirely denuded of vestments, just commenc- 
 ing his course of fasting, who sat immoveable 
 with upturned eyes, while enduring the fierce 
 gnawing of incipient hunger on a healthy frame. 
 In another, the hollow, wolfish glare, despite 
 the abstracted eye, betokened the effect of 
 
 > 
 
THE RUCHTI AREE ADVENTURER. 177 
 
 these pangs upon the constitution after the 
 keenest agony was past : while in others the 
 dull apathetic gaze, not less than the wasted 
 limbs, and dry skeleton-like frame, betrayed 
 the deep inroads made by famine on the frail 
 tenement of clay, and gave cause for dread 
 that the man might sink under such unnatural 
 privations, before the, saint could rise pure and 
 unsullied from the ruins of his earthly taber- 
 nacle. 
 
 “ But mere abstinence was not the only 
 violence practised against nature by these stem 
 devotees. The most painful discipline was re- 
 sorted to, in order, as it appeared, to raise the 
 character of the voluntary sufferer among his 
 brethren. The true Dervishes and Soofees of 
 Persia and of Roum direct their whole powers 
 of mind to the acquisition of knowledge and 
 science, as the means to the attainment of 
 their one great end ; and confine their disci- 
 pline for the most part to rigid self-denial, 
 rigorous fasting and long persevering prayer; 
 while the sterner ascetics of Hindostan subject 
 themselves, as I have told you, to the most 
 dreadful and revolting self-tortures, as means 
 of subduing the earthly and unholy principles 
 of their nature, and leaving the spirit unfettered 
 to seek the celestial union for which it pants. 
 Many, no doubt, have no object in these self-in- 
 flictions beyond the praise and admiration of 
 
 i 3 
 
3 78 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 men ; for so perverse is human nature, that 
 we see many people take such pains in acting 
 the hypocrite to deceive their fellow men, which 
 if honestly bestowed on acts of piety and 
 virtue might secure them acceptance with their 
 Creator. 
 
 “ The Roushuneah appear to have taken their 
 place between these two parties. Closely allied 
 in their peculiar doctrines to the Ismaileans or 
 Batunneah of old, the principle of blind and 
 absolute devotion to their spiritual chief and 
 leader had imbued them with a tone of greater 
 austerity, and a gloomier spirit than were usual 
 among the more independent dervishes of the 
 west, while they seldom felt called upon to 
 copy the savage practices of the Hindoo 
 fanatics. At this time, however, from special 
 causes a more than ordinary degree of severity 
 prevailed amongst the sect. 
 
 The misfortunes which it had suffered in its 
 collisions with the power of the Moghul em- 
 perors, had thrown a shade over its prospects, 
 which nothing, it was held, but the most 
 strenuous exertions of all its members, could 
 have any chance of removing ; and among the 
 means of gaining an influence over the wild 
 Affghan tribes with whom they lived, superior 
 sanctity, mysterious awe, and a conviction of 
 supernatural power, were those which they 
 chiefly relied on. The Peers and Khaleefahs of 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. IJ9 
 
 the sect, themselves depending partly on the 
 efficacy of prayer and penance to obtain their 
 ends, and having also in view to increase the 
 number of their followers, had recourse to un- 
 usually severe and rigid self-inflictions, as well 
 as to the more ordinary course of discipline. 
 The principal theatre of these exhibitions was 
 to be found in the caverns of Fulehpoor. 
 
 “ Dismal and revolting, in truth, was the 
 spectacle which these gloomy vaults presented, 
 filled as they were with ghastly forms, motion- 
 less and voiceless as statues, in every imagi- 
 nable posture of painful self-infliction and 
 severity of penance. 
 
 “ Like the pre-adamite monarchs in the en- 
 chanted hall of Eblis, who chained immovably 
 in ceaseless torture are not even permitted the 
 relief of fellowship in suffering, did these grim 
 spectres sit from hour to hour, and day to day, 
 as if unconscious of each other’s existence. Not 
 an eyelid was seen to wink over the strained 
 eye-ball, nor did a hand rise to brush away the 
 noisome vermin, that crawled over the marble 
 face. It was a sight to sink the lightest heart ; 
 and mine, I do confess, was thoroughly dis- 
 gusted. Not even the coveted joys of perfect 
 knowledge, and all the ineffable delights of the 
 Wassalut , or union with the divine essence, or 
 even the Wahadut , or complete identification 
 with the Creator could have reconciled me to 
 so hideous an ordeal. 
 
180 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 “Nor did my Peer himself regard the scene 
 with greater approbation. Behold my son/ 
 he said, ‘the lamentable effects of ignorance 
 and superstition, and the difference between 
 their dictates and those of reason and virtue. 
 It is true, that we are weak and sinful crea- 
 tures, possessing souls indeed, pure emanations 
 from the Eternal, but clogged by the filthy 
 clay of our earthly tabernacle, so that they 
 cannot soar to enjoy communion with their 
 kindred source ; it is true that it is our duty, 
 by self-control, by abstinence and prayer, to 
 purge this dross away, and fit our spirits for 
 their final resting place. But the beneficent 
 Creator requires not such sacrifices from 
 his creatures. He has vouchsafed to them 
 many blessings, which they are bound to 
 enjoy in moderation, it is true, but they must 
 neither despise nor reject them ; even the 
 dervish may at fitting seasons indulge, so that he 
 loses not sight of his one great end. These 
 infatuated creatures imagine that the more 
 self-suffering they inflict, the more they will 
 please their Maker. There are some who have 
 a seed of knowledge; but it is choked and 
 rendered unfruitful by the weeds of supersti- 
 tion and false doctrine. Here we shall learn 
 nothing : so longer tarrying is useless.’ 
 
 “ All, however, even in this place, were not 
 such gloomy bigots. There were fakeers and 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 181 
 
 dervishes of all countries and all characters ; 
 and some of them appeared neither absti- 
 nent nor self-denying. With these, at times, 
 1 consorted, little to my advantage, indeed ; but 
 greatly to my enjoyment and the raising of my 
 spirits, which were sadly depressed in this den 
 of torture. Here, for the first time did I 
 meet the person, whom you have since 
 known by the appellation of Noor Shah. He 
 was then a youth, more captivated by the 
 apparent liberty of a dervishes life, than reso- 
 lute in pursuit of its true objects, yet not with- 
 out a tinge of enthusiasm. But this served 
 rather to mislead, than to direct his mind to 
 good, and it thus became the sport of every 
 new and plausible doctrine, which he chanced 
 to hear. 
 
 u Arrived among the Roushuneah, his ima- 
 gination became inflamed by what he saw, and 
 he would have enlisted himself among them, 
 had not the probationary exercises at this time 
 practised by them been too severe a trial for 
 his zeal. It was while struggling with this 
 uncertainty, that I first found him, and after 
 pointing out, as well as I was able, the folly 
 and inconsistency of their conduct, I persuaded 
 him to become a convert to the milder doc- 
 trines of my own Peer, who at my desire, 
 received him as a new Mooreed , and permitted 
 him to join our company. 
 
182 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 “ This defection was exceedingly mortifying 
 to these people, who at the time in question, 
 were peculiarly sensitive in such matters, and 
 who had already imbibed a jealousy of my 
 master, from his disagreement with them in 
 opinion upon many of their principles ; a dis- 
 sent, which he sought not to disguise. Thus 
 we readily discovered, that the sooner we should 
 take our departure, the better it would be for all 
 parties; and our resolution to do so, was 
 quickened by the result of a formal discussion, 
 on the subject of their doctrines, into which 
 the Sheikh was drawn by one of their first 
 Khaleefehs. 
 
 iC Among the peculiar tenets of their faith, 
 was one in particular, which inculcated, in the 
 strongest terms, the duty of implicit obedience 
 to the Peer , or religious instructor. After 
 premising that the commands of such in- 
 structors, who having gone through the pre- 
 scribed probations were considered equal 
 to, or rather identical with God himself, 
 should have all the force of commands from 
 the Almighty it went on to declare, that 
 all who shall refuse to receive and obey the 
 precepts of such Peers, are to be regarded as 
 brutes, whom it is lawful, nay meritorious to 
 destroy, or as men dead, whose property be- 
 longs of right to true believers, and may there- 
 fore, be by them lawfully appropriated. The 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 183 
 
 same principle was carried out further in an- 
 other of their tenets* which declared, that when 
 perfect knowledge, in the mystic sense of the 
 law, had been attained through attention to the 
 instructions of a Peer, and combined with reli- 
 gious discipline, the adept became thus, as it 
 were, above the law, the external forms of which, 
 in such cases, ceased to be binding, and re- 
 quired no longer to be observed. 
 
 u To these positions, my master could by no 
 means assent, and being pressed to give his 
 opinion on the subject, he declared that the 
 idea of forcing the human mind into any given 
 system of faith, against its feelings and convic- 
 tions, was diametrically opposed to the dictates 
 of reason and the principles of eternal truth 
 itself ; that to search for truth was the duty 
 of all intelligent beings ; but that hampered by 
 such intellectual fetters, the mental faculties 
 could have no due play and must succumb to 
 the yoke of bigotry and error. As for the 
 proposition, that all, who rejected this system 
 of constraint, were to be held as virtually out- 
 laws, objects of lawful rapine and murder, it 
 was too monstrous to be entertained for a 
 moment, being utterly at variance with 
 the principles of eternal justice. The law of 
 right and wrong is co-existant and identical 
 with eternal truth, that is with the deity him- 
 self, and consequently not only binding upon, 
 
184 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 but inseparable from beings, whose souls are 
 but emanations from that deity. 
 
 “ Such was the nature of the Sheikh’s argu- 
 ment. The Khaleefeh adhered to the fundamental 
 maxim of the sect, that Peers being true mani- 
 festations of the divinity, or rather the divi- 
 nity himself, must be obeyed as God ; and that 
 the only test of holiness and virtue in man is 
 the strictness of their obedience to their Peer. 
 So that while disobedience to a Peer is the 
 greatest sin, implicit obedience is the greatest 
 virtue of which man is capable. There being 
 no argument in all this, which was no more 
 than a begging of the whole question at issue, 
 the discussion terminated, and the disputants 
 separated in mutual displeasure ; which, on the 
 part of the Roush uneah Peer, was aggravated 
 by jealousy into determined hatred, while the 
 natural benevolence of the Sheikh prevented 
 his entertaining a more bitter feeling than that 
 of disgust, mingled with somewhat of indigna- 
 tion, at a doctrine so opposite to his own more 
 liberal principles. 
 
 “ The day of our departure was fixed at 
 length, and our faces were turned homeward — 
 if the dervish can be said to have a home ; 
 when our journey was stopped by a fatal oc- 
 currence, which threw me once more upon the 
 world, and led to a change in all my habits of 
 life. During the whole of our travels, my 
 
 
THE BUCHT1AREE ADVENTURER. 185 
 
 master had, at all times, afforded the aid of his 
 medical skill, to those who required it ; and 
 among the ignorant Affghans, it had been the 
 more frequently put in requisition, as such 
 assistance came rarely within their reach. Our 
 lengthened stay at Fatehpore afforded time 
 for his fame to spread, and many from the 
 neighbourhood flocked in to avail themselves 
 of his aid. Among the rest an old Reish Suf- 
 feed, the chief of a village, and of a small sub- 
 division of a tribe, requested some medicine 
 for his wife, who was described as having been 
 long a sufferer under a painful complaint. The 
 Sheikh somewhat unwillingly complied, declar- 
 ing that as he could not see the patient, his 
 prescription must be, in some degree, given at 
 random ; and along with the medicine he cau- 
 tioned the husband to attend particularly to 
 the directions which accompanied it, more espe- 
 cially to beware of administering larger doses 
 than those prescribed. 
 
 “ It was written, however, doubtless, in the 
 woman’s destiny that she should not recover, for 
 in spite of, or more probably in consequence of 
 the very remedies employed, as we learned that 
 she had taken triple or quadruple the proper 
 quantity in order to effect a cure, she died. There 
 would probably have been no notice taken 
 about the matter, had it not come to the ears of 
 the Roushuneah, who stimulated by jea- 
 
186 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO 
 
 lousy, took it up, and persuaded the man that 
 the Sheikh had murdered his wife. The ton- 
 gue of the slanderers is the most deadly of 
 all swords, and so in this case it proved. 
 
 66 As the good Sheikh, attended only by 
 myself, was proceeding, on the evening before 
 our departure, to a garden, at a short distance 
 from our munzil , he was overtaken by a furious 
 crowd headed by the widower, who assailed 
 him with the foulest abuse. On his calmly 
 denying the absurd charge brought against 
 him, and upbraiding his accuser with the in- 
 gratitude of so rude a return for his exertions 
 to save the invalid, the whole crowd excited by 
 several of the Roushuneah, who were scattered 
 amongst them, set upon the good old man, 
 with clubs and stones, and soon put an end to 
 his life, 
 
 “ Yet even in these terrible moments, the 
 calm, collected, and benevolent demeanour of 
 their victim produced a powerful effect upon 
 his murderers. Endeavouring to assist and 
 protect him, I came in for a good share of rough 
 usage, but was at his side when he fell. 6 Let 
 me alone/ said he, 6 and save yourself. The 
 shell only is broken ; the pearl escapes/ added 
 he, smiling ; the end is attained sooner than 
 I hoped for/ and, breaking out into some 
 mystic verses expressive of rapture at the near 
 fulfilment of all his most blissful anticipations, 
 he closed his eyes to open them no more. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 187 
 
 “ It was a sight that disarmed even his rude 
 and fierce assailants. Then rage seemed to 
 vanish with the prostration of its object, and 
 they gazed on each other with looks of doubt 
 and shame. The aspect of the Sheikh’s grey 
 hairs clotted with the blood of his wounds ; 
 the very absence of any resistance to their 
 violence, startled them ; and the sin of murder- 
 ing a holy man, a stranger too, whose person 
 should have been sacred, and thus bringing his 
 blood upon their own heads, shocked even 
 men who held human life in general at but 
 little value. From an object of anger and 
 punishment, the dead man rose into a saint; 
 and the body was taken reverently up and in- 
 terred in the garden near which he had been 
 put to death, to receive the honours of canoni- 
 zation.” 
 
188 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 STORY OF ALLEE CONTINUED. 
 
 Stunned with the blows I had received, 
 and with the unexpected horror of the scene, I 
 was left unnoticed where I had fallen, until 
 found by Noor Shah, who came up after the 
 catastrophe, and helped me to my munzil. 
 There, in the course of a few days, I recovered 
 so far as to be able to prosecute my journey, 
 and in the meantime became more intimate 
 than before with several young fakeers, for der- 
 vishes such reprobates could not be called, 
 whose purpose was to travel westward. These 
 were of the class I have already alluded to, men 
 who used their garb as a cloak for licentious- 
 ness and excess, and regarded nothing but the 
 pleasure of the passing hour, without any re- 
 gard to the means by which that enjoyment was 
 attained. 
 
 66 In our subsequent long and checquered 
 journey, the daily intercourse with comrades of 
 such habits and conduct produced a powerful 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. ] 89 
 
 and mischievous effect upon the mind of one 
 who, like myself, still young and inexperienced, 
 had for some time past been held under strict 
 moral control ; a control which, though vo- 
 luntarily submitted to and sweetened by feelings 
 of strong affection and esteem, was far from 
 congenial in itself to a youth of my free, rov- 
 ing disposition, and early education. I had, in 
 fact, enjoyed the advantages of good example 
 and precept for too short a time to render me 
 proof against the voice of pleasure or the scorn- 
 er’s laugh. The lessons and excellent admo- 
 nitions of the good Sheikh, though they re- 
 mained fixed in my memory, ceased to rule my 
 conduct ; and, while aware of what was right, 
 I could not refrain from doing what was wrong. 
 
 “ The longer I remained in this society of 
 debauchees, the more familiar, of course, did 
 I become with excess and with crime. We 
 roved about at will, a band too strong to fear 
 the encounter of ordinary travellers or common 
 foes. The former we often plundered, the 
 latter we quelled or forced to fly; and when we 
 met a force too powerful for us to resist, 
 we then became the peaceful dervishes, who, 
 having nothing to lose, were the object of no 
 plundering attack, and who greeted with the 
 salute of peace and amity alike the Toorkoman 
 robber, the Belooche banditti, and the licensed 
 plunderers of the Kuzzilbash soldiery. 
 
190 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 “ In this way did we once more traverse 
 Khorasan, and having sojourned for awhile at 
 the shrine of that celebrated saint, Sheikh 
 Ahmed-e-Jami, we could not refrain from the 
 dangerous experiment of a visit to the holy city 
 of Meshed ; dangerous, I say ; for though, 
 perhaps, containing within its walls as many 
 heretical Sooffees as orthodox Mussulmauns, 
 the Moollahs and Mooshteheds, who ruled 
 there with absolute sway, were bitter enemies 
 to all free thinkers, and could have no greater 
 refreshment to their souls than the occasional 
 stoning of a SoofFee. Yet these Moollahs 
 occasionally paid for their amusement, for the 
 Sooffees and dervishes, true or false, who, 
 with their adherents, formed a strong body, 
 would sometimes rebel, and pay back a share 
 of the severity which they met from the 
 hands of the priesthood. 
 
 “ Among the most furious of these orthodox 
 mules was one Moollah Seyd Allee, a real 
 Yahoo , a relative of Meerza Mahomed Bauk- 
 lun, the well-known Sheikh-ul-Islam at Ispa- 
 han, and who held a post of some trust and 
 great emolument connected with the shrine of 
 Imaum Reza. This person having observed a 
 dervish of Kashmere, who had already made 
 himself somewhat too remarkable by the free- 
 dom both of his actions and opinions, passing 
 the august gate of the mosque in the sahn , or 
 
THE BUCHTI AREE ADVENTURER. 1 9 1 
 
 square, with a contemptuous gesture, instead 
 of the proper respectful salute and pious bene- 
 dictions on the saint there interred, raised a 
 hue and cry ; and, following him beyond the 
 sacred precincts of the sanctuary, he beset the 
 unfortunate man with a number of the servants 
 of the shrine. Perhaps, however, these might 
 have stopped short of extremities, and the 
 dervish might have been let off with a sound 
 beating, had not the noise attracted the atten- 
 tion of a large party of pilgrims just arrived, 
 brimful of zeal to perform their adorations at the 
 shrine. These, hearing of the cause, and learning 
 that the object of persecution was one who had 
 sought to desecrate the very shrine at which 
 they came to worship, were roused to holy 
 wrath, and rushing, armed with stones, on the 
 unlucky culprit, who might otherwise have 
 escaped; and, cutting off his retreat, soon 
 brought him to the ground, and, before they 
 desisted, reduced him to a bloody and shape- 
 less mass. 
 
 “ In this atrocious proceeding they were en- 
 couraged by the Moollah, who, when the deed 
 was consummated, pronounced it to be one 
 particularly grateful to the holy Imaum, and 
 which entitled the perpetrators to peculiar pri- 
 vileges at his shrine. But it was a deed neither 
 unremarked nor unremembered by the frater- 
 nity to whom the victim belonged, nor did it 
 pass wholly unavenged. 
 
192 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 “ Had the police of Meshed been on the 
 alert that evening, they might have remarked 
 no small stir, from the Kutulgdh and the bury- 
 ing-ground of the Merhawah , to the tomb of 
 Khojah Rebbie and the Green Goombuz, the 
 usual abodes of the wandering dervishes and 
 calunders. The Moollah, it appears, had a 
 custom of leaving his own house, which, ac- 
 cording to report, was occasionally made too hot 
 for him by certain of its inmates, and repair- 
 ing, with one or two attendants at most, about 
 two or three hours after midnight, to the Hum- 
 maum of the Paeen-pali , where he passed his 
 time in greater peace and quietness, if not, as 
 some alleged, more creditably than he could 
 do at home, until the hour of morning 
 prayers. 
 
 “ How it happened was at first a mystery ; 
 but on the morrow after the event I have 
 related, the Moollah was found almost dead, 
 immersed up to the waist in the filthiest spot 
 of the Meheleh ; and it was found, at the same 
 time, that the railing encircling the shrine, 
 particularly where the pilgrims were in the habit 
 of evincing their devotion by kissing and rubbing 
 their beards upon it, was besmeared with the 
 vilest ordure ; the Moollah’s turban, equally de- 
 filed, was likewise seen suspended from one of 
 the rails. This discovery was said to have been 
 made in the most unpleasant manner by some 
 
THE BUCHTTAREE ADVENTURER. 193 
 
 of the very devout, who had repaired thither 
 early to enjoy the consolation of a kiss at the 
 holy place, before the arrival of their less 
 zealous brethren. 
 
 “ The Moollah, who on being carried home 
 had been subjected to a purification, a pro- 
 cess which gave employment to several Sac- 
 cas* for an hour or two, wore fastened by 
 a cord, round his neck a piece of parchment, 
 on which were written these words, ‘ The 
 reward of orthodox zeal, from Dervish Rou- 
 slmn-ul-IIak, of Kashmere, to Moollah Seyed 
 Allee Cashanee/ 
 
 66 All Meshed rang with the event ; but little 
 information regarding it was to^be extracted from 
 the Moollah, who, stupified with shame and ill 
 usage, seemed more inclined to shun inquiry 
 than to seek revenge. The orthodox flew buz- 
 zing about in a ferment, like angry bees ; but 
 whether it was that the Moollah was no general 
 favourite, or that men shrunk from embroiling 
 themselves with secret, and, as it appeared, 
 not impotent enemies, it is certain that no 
 active measures were adopted against any one. 
 The dervishes kept quiet, and matters gradually 
 lapsed into their usual tranquillity ; but, from 
 that day forward, for a long time, none of the 
 fraternity were either attacked or persecuted, 
 as had formerly been the case. 
 
 * Water carriers. 
 
 VOL. ITI. 
 
 K 
 
194 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 “ It was this affair which first made me 
 acquainted with the author of your misfor- 
 tunes. That person, then, a youth like myself, 
 and, as you are aware, the son of Meerza 
 Mahomed Baukher Mujiloossee, the Sheikh- 
 ul-I slam, though now known as Meerza Jemal- 
 u-Deen, -was originally named Mehdee Koolee, 
 and remarkable as a youth of the most profli- 
 gate habits and vicious disposition. His father 
 who had set his heart on seeing the young man 
 rise in the priesthood, disappointed at a mode 
 of conduct which threatened to mar all these 
 expectations, after witnessing the commission 
 of many grave offences, and ineffectually re- 
 sorting to every mode of punishment within 
 his power, resolved, as a last hope to send him 
 to the holy city of Meshed itself, where he 
 trusted that the example of so many pious and 
 religious persons, 'and, above all, a sight of 
 the many valuable benefices and rich emolu- 
 ments bestowed upon those who regulated their 
 conduct by orthodox rules, might work a change 
 on the mind and behaviour of his libertine son; 
 or, if such were not the case, where his excesses 
 might be less in view of the scene of his future 
 fortunes, until he should, at least, acquire sense 
 enough to throw a disguise over his vicious 
 propensities. 
 
 “ He was accordingly sent to be placed in 
 the Medressa Meerza Jaffier, and principally 
 
THE BUCHTI AREE ADVENTURER. 195 
 
 under the care of this very Moollah Seyed Allee, 
 who was his maternal relative. The result you 
 may imagine. In a city like Mushed, where, 
 in spite of its holy character, there is far more 
 profligacy than piety, a youth, who had figured 
 like Mehdee Koolee at the capital as a noto- 
 rious libertine, was not likely to reform. He 
 rushed into all possible excesses, defying every 
 attempt of his relative to check his wild career, 
 until, at length, the latter, for the sake of his 
 own character, was obliged to cast him off and 
 refuse all further intercourse or connexion 
 with one whose society had become discreditable. 
 This abandonment, though caused by his own 
 evil conduct, Mehdee could not forgive. The 
 countenance of the Moollah had, at times, 
 been of use to him, and might be so again, and 
 the young man resolved to make him repent of 
 withdrawing it so publicly. 
 
 “ Among his other sins there was one which, 
 in the Moollah’s eyes, was quite unpardonable. 
 His young relative had become acquainted with, 
 and greatly affected, the society of dervishes, 
 calunders and religious mendicants in general, 
 with whom he loved to spend his time and 
 means, rather than among the pious and vene- 
 rable of the colleges, or the priesthood whom 
 he met at the Mujlis of his relative, or among 
 those to whose houses he enjoyed admittance. 
 
 k 2 
 
196 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 Nor did the Moollah know the worst ; for it was 
 not even with the worthiest of that abused 
 order of men, but with the most profligate that 
 he consorted. Their reckless, unfettered mode 
 of life, free conversation, and store of wit and 
 anecdote, not less than the unbridled licence 
 of their conduct, and the unprincipled selfish- 
 ness with which they followed out their own 
 schemes of pleasure regardless of their effect 
 on others, were just suited to his fancy ; and he 
 gloried in showing how far he could surpass, 
 rather than fall short of the worst of them, in 
 their most daring exploits. 
 
 “ But debauchery, however low, is still costly, 
 and means are required to purchase even the 
 lowest pleasures. Those of the future priest 
 were small, and soon exhausted, and the ques- 
 tion was, how to recruit them. His credit was 
 soon at an end; but resolute to obtain funds, 
 he resorted to the last expedient of the needy 
 and profligate, uniting with others equally as 
 poor and unscrupulous as himself in actual theft 
 and robbery ; and thus did he support his own 
 extravagance, and minister to the wants, or 
 impure desires, of his companions. 
 
 “ It was during this course of vice and folly, 
 that the occurrence I have related, took place. 
 The dervish who suffered, was one, and not 
 the worst of the set with whom Mehdee Koolee 
 associated. Mehdee Koolee was one of the 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 197 
 
 most active in avenging his death. In fact, 
 it was no fault of his that the full penalty 
 of blood was not exacted from his relative ; but 
 others, more prudent, interfered, remarking, 
 that though the infliction of shame and dis- 
 grace on an unpopular character might excite 
 but little sympathy, the case would be widely 
 different were it pushed to such an extremity ; 
 for then the matter must be taken up by the body 
 of the priesthood, and, if they were supported, 
 as doubtless they would be, by the popular 
 voice, the result might be disastrous to the der- 
 vishes, and a longer sojourn in Meshed would 
 become, for a time at least, impossible. These 
 considerations alone, saved the Moollah’s life. 
 
 “ I seek not to disguise or deny that I was 
 one of those concerned in the punishment of 
 Moollah Seyed Allee; and thus, as I have stated, 
 commenced my acquaintance with Mehdee 
 Koolee. Far from a rigid moralist myself, and 
 equally devoted to the pleasures and excite- 
 ments of life, I was delighted with the frank 
 and jovial manners of my new friend; and 
 being ignorant of his history, and having, in 
 truth, no idea of setting up for a judge of his 
 conduct, was not, at first, by any means shocked 
 at his profligacy. I only viewed in him a com- 
 rade, the first to devise and the readiest to carry 
 into practice all possible schemes for the grati- 
 fication of the band to which he had united 
 
198 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 himself. In fact, the lessons of morality and 
 good feeling which I had received from my 
 old master, and which I may venture to assert, 
 had exercised a very powerful effect upon my 
 heart and conduct while' he lived, had now 
 begun to fade from my memory, and I was 
 daily becoming more unscrupulous and unprin- 
 cipled. 
 
 “ I had now fairly fallen into a set who 
 practised every trick, and shift, and deception, 
 which is by many unjustly imputed to the 
 order of dervishes at large, as to a crew of im- 
 pudent rogues and impostors. Such indeed 
 were my present companions ; and though 
 there were among them individuals of superior 
 intellect and much hard earned experience in 
 the world, they, for the most part, turned it to 
 no purposes, save those of knavery and deceit. 
 Still, naturally of an inquiring, and occasion- 
 ally of a contemplative turn of mind, even 
 from these I imbibed much that, if well ap- 
 plied, might have been of advantage to me. 
 Like the bee, I could suck honey from the 
 vilest flowers; but, unlike that wise insect, I 
 did not always turn it to the best use. 
 
 “ My new comrade, on the other hand, so 
 far from making use of the opportunities which 
 a strange and various life threw in his way, 
 appeared resolved to shut his eyes to all 
 improvement and instruction. Hating the very 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 199 
 
 thought of the profession chosen for him, pro- 
 bably from some indistinct idea of the con- 
 straint it would impose upon his vicious habits, 
 and including in his detestation the religion of 
 ■which he was selected to be a minister, he 
 eagerly turned to what he deemed its direct 
 antagonist and embraced the opinions and doc- 
 trines of Sooffeeism, without comprehending 
 or even examining their nature, merely be- 
 cause they were, as he believed, opposed to 
 the tenets and dogmas of Islam. 
 
 “ In fact, herding, as he did, with only the 
 lowest of the order, themselves most super- 
 ficially informed in the abstruse philosophy of 
 true Sooffeeism, it was impossible he could 
 become instructed on so deep a subject or 
 understand much of the truth ; and though 
 subsequently his powerful, though ill-regulated 
 mind did search more deeply into the spirit of 
 the doctrines which formerly he had only 
 known in the letter, he was unqualified to 
 understand the full harmony of a system, of 
 which the object is truth, and which speaks to 
 the heart with a force exactly proportioned to 
 the virtue and benevolence it finds there. 
 
 “ Pursuing our wild career, until Meshed 
 became weary of us, and we of Meshed, we 
 departed, holding still westward, visiting the 
 shrine of Sheikh Bayazeed, of Bostam, and 
 that of Shah Abdul-Azeem, near the ruins of 
 Rhe and the town of Tehran, where we re- 
 
200 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 mained for some time practising our usual 
 feats of hypocrisy and deceit. From thence 
 we proceeded to Room, a city celebrated for its 
 numerous shrines and places of pilgrimage, 
 and above all for the mausoleum of Fatimah, 
 the sister of Imaum Reza. That persons of 
 our character and order should constantly flock 
 to, and abound in, the very strongholds and 
 chief abodes of orthodoxy, trusting themselves 
 amongst the people who, of all others, thirst 
 for their destruction, and persecute them with 
 the greatest bitterness, may no doubt appear 
 strangely inconsistent. But the truth is, 
 that such places are also the great resort 
 of the superstitious and the ignorant, who 
 are seldom qualified to discriminate between 
 true and false religion, between fictitious and 
 real piety, between knowledge and preten- 
 sion ; these are persons by whom the names 
 of dervish and saint are regarded as synony- 
 mous, and among whom, therefore, religious 
 adventurers are sure of making their best har- 
 vest. Thus it was at Room, where shrines 
 and Imaunzadehs are more plentiful than shops 
 and houses, and priests and moollahs exceed 
 in number all the rest of the inhabitants, ex- 
 cept the crowds of pilgrims that flock to the 
 innumerable Duryahs. * These pilgrims were 
 our sources of supply, and bravely did we 
 
 * Shrines. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER, 201 
 
 drain the purses they had made up for their 
 pious journey. 
 
 “ But events of a graver character awaited 
 us at this place. It so happened that Meerza 
 Cossim Allee, brother of the Sheikh-ul-Xslam of 
 Ispahan, and consequently uncle to my com- 
 rade Mehdee Koolee, had lately been appointed 
 Mootwullee* of the shrine of Fatimah, a cir- 
 cumstance of which the latter was ignorant, or 
 probably he might have avoided the place. 
 He was a man of sincere piety and goodness — 
 in fact the only worthy member of his family ; 
 and though he had resided but a short time at 
 Koom, even in that nest of knaves and hypo- 
 crites he had rendered himself acceptable and 
 respected. 
 
 “ Aware of the advantage of a prepossession 
 in our favour, we no sooner arrived in the city 
 than professing the greatest zeal and rever- 
 ence for its principal saint and shrine, we boldly 
 repaired thither, and took up our abode in 
 some of the cells in the court of the holy place 
 itself. For a few days our behaviour was so 
 exemplary, that the Khadums professed them- 
 selves edified by our devotion. But soon the 
 evil nature broke forth, and certain irregulari- 
 ties, both at home and abroad, attracted so 
 much displeasure, that at length we were all 
 
 n 3 
 
 Superintendent. 
 
202 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 unexpectedly summoned to the presence of the 
 Mootwullee. 
 
 “Now whether that functionary had received 
 any secret information, or whether, as was said, 
 an old and keen-eyed domestic did actually re- 
 cognise my companion under his disguise as a 
 fakeer, I cannot say ; but certain it is that he 
 was known to his uncle, who deeply shocked at 
 the dissoluteness of one, from whom far other 
 things had been expected, upbraided him se- 
 verely wfith his crimes, and threatened, unless 
 a reform should instantly be commenced, to 
 send him under constraint to his father at Is- 
 pahan. Stung to the quick by the severity of 
 this reproof, which, however well merited, the 
 young man was too arrogant to endure with 
 patience, and too malignant to forgive, he quitted 
 his uncle’s presence in deep wrath ; and so far 
 from salutary was its effect, that he appeared 
 resolved to rush more recklessly than ever into 
 debauchery. Only a day or two afterwards, 
 he, in company with some of his worst com- 
 panions, discovered and pillaged a store of wine 
 belonging to an Armenian who (doubtless 
 for sufficient reasons) had been permitted to 
 reside within the sacred walls, when they all got 
 intoxicated, and committed so many scandalous 
 excesses, that the Khadums^ calling in assist- 
 ance, secured several of the leaders, among the 
 rest, Mehdee Koolee, and carried them off to 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 203 
 
 the Mootwullee, by whose directions they were 
 lodged in prison until further orders. 
 
 u The bad passions of the young man were 
 by no means soothed by this adventure, and 
 terrible were the oaths of vengeance which he 
 swore against his mild and worthy uncle, who, 
 as it appeared, was not even aware of his ne- 
 phew^s being among the culprits. Next day, 
 however, the truth came out, when the Moosh- 
 teheds, or high priests of the place, the leading 
 Moollahs of the principal shrines and mosques, 
 the Sheikh-ul-Islam, and Mohtesib, or chief of 
 the police, were assembled together at the 
 house of the Mootwullee, to sit in judgment 
 on the criminals. Then did the unfortunate 
 Meerza Cossim Allee witness the exposure of 
 his unworthy nephew before the conclave, clad 
 in his dervish garb; nor had he presence of 
 mind enough to conceal the fact, for he incon- 
 tinently broke out into lamentations, and be- 
 moaned in bitter words the dust that had fallen 
 upon his head through the misconduct of so 
 determined a reprobate. 
 
 The assembly sympathized in the distress 
 of one of their own body ; and well was it for the 
 guilty that such was the case; for as it was 
 but too clear that the nephew of the Mootwul- 
 lee was himself the principal culprit they could 
 scarcely award to the others a heavier punish- 
 ment than they awarded to him. Thus they 
 
204 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 were dismissed with a severe admonition, which 
 was accompanied by a private hint that the 
 sooner all concerned should disappear from the 
 city the better. 
 
 “As for the principal culprit, to him was 
 given the choice of abjuring his disreputable 
 friends and his errors together, and commenc- 
 ing a new life under his uncle’s roof, or of 
 being sent a prisoner to his father at Ispahan. 
 It was an alternative which admitted of no hesi- 
 tation. To take up his abode for a short time 
 with his uncle involved but a temporary sacri- 
 fice, and a slight exercise of his familiar art, hy- 
 pocrisy ; so he assumed a contrite aspect, went 
 to the Hummaun, and issued forth, in outward 
 guise at least, a respectable aspirant for the 
 order of the priesthood. 
 
 “ To myself, however, and to others also, he 
 betrayed the deep and incurable hatred, which 
 the course taken by his good uncle had created 
 in his heart ; and, wild and inconsiderate as I 
 then was, so bitter and unreasonable an animo- 
 sity shocked and startled me. It was the first 
 trait that awakened me fully to the heartless 
 character of my associate. I reasoned with 
 him on the subject, and endeavoured to show 
 him that, however painful to his feelings the 
 late exposure had been, the old man could, un- 
 der the circumstances, have pursued no other 
 course. But all my eloquence was vain. His 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 205 
 
 brow never unbent, any more than his heart, 
 and hell itself was not darker than his look, as 
 he replied, 6 Ay, you have escaped ; you can 
 speak at your ease ; but the wretch who has 
 felt the sticks can only think of his anguish 
 and his revenge; and when I forget either, 
 may the pains of Jehannun seize upon my 
 heart !’ 
 
 “ To the Meerza^s house, however, he went, 
 and appeared to take in a wonderful manner to 
 his new mode of life. Not having been one of 
 the culprits on the recent occasion, nor marked 
 as an evil character myself, I was neither in- 
 cluded in their punishment, nor excluded from 
 communication with my companion ; and 
 though received with coolness at first, once 
 admitted to the Meerza’s dewankhaneh, I found 
 means to render myself so acceptable, that he 
 expressed himself with kindness to me, and 
 gave me a general invitation to his house. In 
 fact, the old man’s moderation and kindly qua- 
 lities had greatly engaged my feelings in his 
 favour; and the more so, as I felt indignant 
 at the unmerited hatred which his nephew had 
 conceived against him, and entertained some 
 dread of the consequences. In this manner, 
 however, I became familiar in the Meerza's 
 house, a privilege of no small value, as it gave 
 me access to a better sort of society than I had 
 for some time kept ; and the most disreputable 
 
206 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 of my former comrades having left the place, I 
 naturally fell into more respectable company, 
 who, finding that I had travelled much, and ob- 
 served a great deal, treated me with cordiality, 
 and in time communicated with me confi- 
 dentially, 
 
 “ It was not without some surprise, that I 
 found Mehdee Koolee continuing, outwardly at 
 least, so quiet and peaceable an inhabitant of 
 his uncle’s house. Knowing him as I did, I 
 could not but doubt the sincerity of his appa- 
 rent conversion ; but after a few weeks' space, 
 during which nothing remarkable occurred, a 
 proposition being made to me to visit Yezd and 
 certain other places in that quarter, I quitted 
 Koom, to which I did not return till after the 
 lapse of some three months. To my surprise, 
 I found my former comrade still resident in his 
 uncle’s house, and, as far as appearances went, 
 steady and sober in conduct.” 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 207 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 STORY OF ALLEE CONCLUDED. 
 
 cc One night, soon after my return, while 
 sitting alone in my munzil, reflecting on the 
 many singular turns in my life, and the strange 
 things I had seen, my ear caught a low sound 
 like a * Hem!’ uttered in a woman’s voice, close 
 to the entrance of my cell, and in another mo- 
 ment the purdeh that hung before it being 
 pushed aside, by the light of a small iron lamp 
 which burned in the cell, I saw a figure enter, 
 enveloped in a long dark garment* Taken as I 
 was by surprise, and musing on many a wild 
 fancy, I could not immediately recollect myself, 
 and half imagined that the thing before me was 
 some being of other than human mould, such 
 as I had heard of, or such as had mingled in my 
 dreams by day as well as night. But, on ob- 
 serving that I was alone, the figure, partly 
 throwing aside her mantle, and making a signal 
 of silence, disclosed the checquered veil of a 
 woman, who, whispering the words, ‘ As you 
 
208 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 hope for happiness, and would prevent evil, 
 follow me/ turned and left the cell. Such ad- 
 ventures being far from uncommon to the fra- 
 ternity of saints and religious mendicants, I 
 concluded that she was some fair one desirous 
 of a secret interview ; so, catching up my staff 
 and cloak, without further inquiry I followed 
 the mysterious messenger. 
 
 Keeping her in view, 1 remarked that 
 the road she took led towards the Meerza’s 
 house, and was not a little surprised at find- 
 ing her halt, and await me at the end of a low 
 shed, which in the day-time served as a stall 
 for a seller of melons and other fruit. At this 
 time, however, it was otherwise engaged ; 
 for a piece of matting being pushed aside, there 
 appeared a small and mean apartment, at one 
 end of which, upon a slip of carpet, sat a 
 veiled female. 
 
 “ Approaching her with some common-place 
 compliment, I besought of her that the veil, 
 which like night shrouded her world of charms, 
 might be removed, and I attempted to aid her 
 in uncovering ; but, holding fast her veil with one 
 hand, with the other she beckoned me to be 
 seated ; and, on my still attempting to employ 
 some gentle force, she exclaimed, c Hold ! you 
 mistake ; if you possess one spark of honesty 
 or humanity refrain, and listen to what 1 have 
 to say T 
 
THE BUCHT1AREE ADVENTURER. 209 
 
 “ Struck with the earnest sincerity of her 
 manner, I desisted ; and on her requesting me 
 to be seated, I took a place near her upon the 
 carpet. 
 
 u 6 You are a friend of Meerza Cossim Al- 
 lee V said she. 
 
 “ 6 1 am V I replied. 
 
 “ 6 1 know it/ she said, 6 for I have seen you 
 often in his company, and have heard him 
 speak of you with regard. You are also a 
 friend of Aga Mehdee Koolee }’ added she, 
 inquiringly. 
 
 66 I hesitated. 
 
 u c I know him well/ said I, at length. 
 
 “ ‘ I understand/ replied she ; c you could 
 not well be the friend of both. Now give ear. 
 I am one of the Meerza’s household, a niece of 
 his wife, and was brought up at his feet— in 
 his arms, which were to me as those of a 
 father. I was his favourite handmaid, and was 
 happy, oh, how happy ! and innocent, till of 
 late — till — till that same Mehdee Khoolee came 
 to dwell amongst us. Villain that he is ! and, 
 alas ! wretch that I am ! As nephew of the 
 Meerza, he lived in his house like a child of 
 the family, and to him there was neither veil 
 nor purdeh. He soon saw me, and I became 
 the object of his vicious desires. Alas ! you 
 know that he can please, that he can fascinate. 
 What need then for me to say how I resisted. 
 
210 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 or how he at length prevailed ? I loved him 
 fondly ; I would have died for him. How then 
 could I have fancied that he was but plotting 
 my ruin ? 
 
 “ c In a plain and simple family such as ours, 
 suspicion was not readily awakened. Our inti- 
 macy continued unsuspected, till I at last be- 
 came sensible of its effects ; and then only did 
 the consequences of my folly flash upon my 
 soul. With shame and confusion did I impart 
 to my betrayer the secret which could not long 
 be hid ; and the first dreadful suspicion of his 
 evil designs and treachery arose in my soul 
 from remarking the gleam of malignant joy 
 which burst from his piercing eye, on hearing 
 my confession. 
 
 “ ‘ Thanks be to Allah P muttered he, * the 
 game is now my own.’ 
 
 “ 6 In the name of heaven ! what mean you ?’ 
 demanded I, startled at his words. 
 
 66 k No matter, my soul V replied he c take care 
 of yourself, and fear not ; all will go well P 
 u * Alas ! little did I then guess the meaning 
 of those words ; but after wondering for awhile, 
 the alarm I had felt at first abated, and matters 
 went on much as before, save that as the time 
 approached when I knew that my own shame 
 must be disclosed, my terror and uneasiness 
 increased. Yet what was to be done ? — what 
 could I even propose ? My brain became be- 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 21 I 
 
 wildered, and my wretchedness was so great as 
 to affect my looks and health, and thus to elicit 
 many kind inquiries from my worthy and be- 
 loved relatives. 
 
 “ c At length my betrayer dropped the mask, 
 and appeared in his own dark colours. Yet, 
 even he, hardened and unprincipled as he is, 
 felt embarrassed when he came to disclose to 
 me his diabolical intentions. Seizing the 
 opportunity, when I was expressing my own 
 perplexity as to the measures to be taken when 
 the period I anticipated should arrive, he pro- 
 fessed a full participation in my uneasiness, and 
 artfully threw in one very plausible suggestion 
 to increase my terror, and display the desperate 
 consequences that would fall on both, should 
 the Meerza his uncle become aware of what had 
 occurred. Observing that I was worked up 
 almost to frenzy by the pictures he presented 
 to me, he next remarked, with the affectation of 
 infinite reluctance, and a gloomy aspect, that 
 the only thing which could relieve us from our 
 difficulties, would be the death of the Meerza; 
 a contingency not unlikely to happen, as he was 
 old, and far from being blessed with a strong 
 constitution. 
 
 Utf He paused, observing my eyes fixed with 
 alarm and horror on his countenance. 
 
 Yes/ he continued, gathering courage as he 
 proceeded, from having broken the ice of his in- 
 
212 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 famous purpose, * yes ; unless it should please 
 God to take my worthy uncle to the joys of 
 paradise, there is no safety for either of us ; 
 both are on the verge of ruin ; whereas, were 
 the old man once fairly disposed of, nothing 
 would remain between us and perfect safety 
 and enjoyment/ 
 
 “ c Remarking my bewilderment, for though I 
 felt the hollowness and heartlessness of his rea- 
 soning, I could not yet discover his drift, he pro- 
 ceeded to state more plainly, that the course of 
 nature required to be hastened, and that the 
 Meerza must not live to discover our criminal 
 intimacy. 
 
 “ 6 Yes — the man must die , 5 said he; either 
 he or we must die. Self-preservation not only 
 justifies, but demands the sacrifice of his life. 
 And you, Fatmeh, must for your own sake, 
 assist in bringing about this indispensable 
 event/ 
 
 66 c In short, the wretch at length explained to 
 me not only that my beloved relative was to be 
 murdered, but that his life must be cut short by 
 poison which he was to furnish, and / admi- 
 nister! Thunderstruck at the development of 
 this diabolical plot, I expressed my indignation 
 in very decided terms, but he stopped me short, 
 and declared, with an expression of countenance 
 which can never be forgotten, that remon- 
 strances were useless ; that what he said must be 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 213 
 
 done, and that on my obedience would depend, 
 as I should find, both my honour and my life ; 
 that in short I was his tool, and that he would 
 use me as such ! 
 
 “‘Thoroughly disgusted as well as humiliated, 
 my eyes opened, and the love I once felt all 
 turned to hate and fear ; yet, roused by the 
 usage I had sustained to greater spirit than I 
 believed to be within me, I replied in terms of 
 abhorrence and defiance that excited his rage to 
 a frightful pitch. But what availed such 
 expressions of my feelings ? What after all was 
 left me but the knowledge of a dreadful plot 
 against the life of my benefactor, and the horri- 
 ble conviction that no effort of mine would suf- 
 fice to avert the danger ? It was while in this 
 state of perturbation that I heard of your arrival, 
 and believing you to be a good man and a friend 
 to the worthy Meerza, I resolved to seek an in- 
 terview with you, and acquaint you with what 
 had occurred, in the hope that you may contrive 
 some means of saving the innocent from the 
 snares of the wicked. 
 
 “ c See now, I have trusted thee ; and may the 
 malediction of Heaven rest upon thee, if thou 
 shalt betray me, or him who may be endangered 
 by my communication ! I conjure thee, in the name 
 of the Most High and of his holy prophet, and 
 of all the blessed Imauns to attend to my words 
 and entreaties. Thou seest I have not spared 
 
214 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 myself, nor cloaked my own shame* but all- 
 nay, my miserable life would I freely sacrifice, to 
 save my venerable protector/ 
 
 “Such was the poor’s girPs story ; which, deeply 
 as I had plunged in heedless guilt, revealed to 
 me a degree of heartless wickedness which made 
 me loathe the scoundrel who had been so long 
 my comrade. The motive of his change of con- 
 duct and apparent reform were now sufficiently 
 clear ; and not less so, the unswerving inten- 
 sity of his hatred and his fatal purpose towards 
 his uncle. But what was to be done ? How were 
 these intentions to be frustrated ? I remained 
 silent for awhile, rapidly revolving in my mind 
 the circumstances I had just heard. 
 
 “ Fatmeh,’ said I at length, * you have 
 sought my aid ; are you disposed to listen to my 
 counsel ? 5 
 
 “ * Alas P replied she, 1 what else can I do ? 
 What other purpose could I have in thus apply- 
 ing to you? We are strangers in this place ; 
 there is no one else to whom I could turn 
 except to my family, and from them I am de- 
 barred by my own imprudence P 
 
 “ c But this/ said I, * must no longer be. 
 Why should you play the game of your unprin- 
 cipled betrayer, and give him the very hold 
 over you which he has plotted to secure ? He 
 expected that if once you were his victim, you 
 must become his tool; but why crown these 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 215 
 
 vicious hopes with success ? Because he has 
 injured you deeply must you remain his humble 
 slave ? To what end should you consent to 
 such abasement? The only hope he held 
 out was to free you from exposure to 
 shame ; and how was that to be effected ? by 
 the commission of a terrible crime — a crime 
 which, praise be to Allah, you have spurned at 
 committing, and which, if perpetrated would 
 but plunge you into deeper wretchedness. Then 
 what remains ? Sooner or later your error must 
 become known. 
 
 “ c Make a virtue of necessity — confess your 
 fault, and communicate to the Meerzawhat you 
 have now told me. He will be touched by 
 your candour and contrition ; and gratitude for 
 his life thus preserved will mitigate his grief and 
 anger at your misconduct, and insure to you 
 ultimate forgiveness. Hold no further inter- 
 course with the villain who has caused this 
 misery ; grant him not even a parting interview, 
 and you will soon be delivered from his perse- 
 cution. That deliverance I shall take upon me 
 to effect. Now, Fatmeh, what say you? A 
 mind, which like yours could prompt the pre- 
 sent measure, should have strength enough to 
 consent to a further sacrifice of pride to secure 
 a great good/ 
 
 “ For a while she replied not, but I could 
 hear the half- suppressed sobs which threatened 
 
216 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO/ 
 
 to rend her breast, and I felt that the veil, which 
 still concealed her face, hid also many a big 
 tear-drop that ran from her eyes. At length 
 the burst of passion subsided ; she arose slowly 
 to her feet, and said while wrapping her chader 
 round her in readiness to depart, 
 
 “ 6 You have stated the truth. There are no 
 other means. I feel that I shall be the sacri- 
 fice, but so it should be. I deserve to suffer, 
 and shall not shrink from it. The Meerza 
 shall hear all ; see that you do your part, and 
 banish the traitor from this place, and so may 
 Allah protect you f and with a graceful obei- 
 sance she turned and left the place. 
 
 “ For a moment I gazed after her, in admira- 
 tion of her firmness, and wondered how a spirit 
 like hers could have so easily been seduced to 
 folly. But who shall read the heart of woman, 
 or attempt to calculate the power or conse- 
 quences of passion in the human breast ? The 
 females who had guided me now advanced 
 to show me my way from the spot; and 
 as I followed her from the door- way, we were 
 met by a figure in whom I was not a little con- 
 founded at recognising the subject of the con- 
 versation I had just been holding, my former 
 comrade, Mehdee Koolee. The moon had 
 risen, the night was bright, and the recognition 
 was mutual. 
 
 “ 6 What Allee?’ said he, ‘at your old tricks, 
 
 I see ! There she goes. Afereen ! Moubarik — 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 217 
 
 I thought you had abjured the sex and set up 
 for purity and virtue ; but I congratulate you 
 on the report being false. Which way do you 
 go ? after her ; or is the meeting over }* 
 
 a f No/ said I, 6 I am for my munzil. It is 
 the old story; medicine; the humours, &c., 
 nothing more ! God be with you/ and so we 
 parted for the time. 
 
 “ Two days afterwards, when I thought poor 
 Fatmeh might have made up her mind to 
 ease her conscience, I sought an interview at 
 my own munzil with the Meerza’s nephew ; 
 and, after a preface of no great length, inform- 
 ed him of the cause I had to believe that his 
 reform was so far from sincere, and his heart still 
 so rancorous. I told him that I had discovered his 
 murderous intentions towards his worthy uncle, 
 and had proof of his design to make away 
 with him by poison ; and that unless he was 
 prepared for exposure to his relative, he would 
 do well to make a speedy retreat. I added 
 that my eye should be upon his movements, 
 and warned him that he should find it an eye 
 that neither slumbered nor slept. 
 
 66 From the moment of my commencing this 
 address, I saw him fix his eye upon my face 
 with a look which deepened gradually into a 
 deadly glare. You know his countenance, and 
 how its handsome features can be smoothed to 
 suit his purpose ; but you have never yet seen it 
 
 VOL. III. L 
 
218 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 wear the horrid scowl of undisguised hatred, 
 which his black heart can communicate to those 
 pliant lineaments, and which, at this time, was 
 heightened by uncontrollable fury. 
 
 “ c Indeed / exclaimed he, through his gnash- 
 ing teeth. 6 So these are your commands ? It 
 is well. Thou art truly an admirable protector, 
 as those who trust to thee shall find. I dis- 
 pute not thy information ; correct, or other- 
 wise, it can have been derived from but one 
 source, and those who furnished it shall have 
 cause to rue their officiousness. As for thee, 
 look to thyself : thy one eye will have work 
 enough in watching its masters safety/ 
 
 “ I returned his wrathful frown with a steady 
 and unquailing look, merely replying, * It is 
 well. The warning is fair on both sides ; but 
 be advised, and seek not to cross my path ; or 
 it may fare worse with thee than with the adder 
 which sought to bite the file/ 
 
 “ W e separated, and at this time I saw no 
 more of him. He disappeared from the house, 
 and the good Mootwullee, who had been 
 made aware of his nephew^s purposes, con- 
 gratulated himself with many a * La-illah-ul- 
 ullah !’ at his providential escape from so dia- 
 bolical a reprobate. More than ever now did 
 he seek my society, which he regarded as a 
 protection from his violent nephew; and at 
 length I lived far more in his house than at my 
 own munzil. 
 
THE BUCIITIAREE ADVENTURER. 219 
 
 “ As time went on, the family of the Meerza 
 recovered their tranquillity, which, however, 
 was partially interrupted by the sudden death 
 of the Sheikh-ul- Islam, who was an intimate 
 acquaintance of the Mootwullee; and the cir- 
 cumstances of his death were so suspicious, 
 that they failed not to recall, vividly, to the 
 good man, the danger which he himself had so 
 recently run. Nevertheless, the daily routine 
 of the family was not disturbed. The Moot- 
 wullee attended, as usual, to the duties of his 
 office, and the females repaired, in their veils, 
 to the bazaars, or to the baths, or to visit their 
 neighbours and acquaintances. Thellummaum, 
 which they frequented, was at no great distance 
 from the house, and the way to it led through 
 a lane, which being unconnected with any 
 bazaar, was but little used by passengers. It 
 was, however, one of the ways by which I could 
 get from my munzil to the Meerza’ s house, and 
 was preferred by me on account of its quiet and 
 loneliness. 
 
 u One evening, when nearly dusk, it so hap- 
 pened that I took this road. Not a soul did 
 I meet on the way ; and I passed along with- 
 out any interruption to my musings, which 
 chiefly referred to the singular and most atro- 
 cious character of my late comrade, until within 
 a few paces of the Hummaum, when I was 
 startled by a fearful shriek, and almost imrae- 
 
220 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 diately saw a man burst from the door into the 
 lane. After a hurried glance the other way, 
 he rushed towards me, when I observed that 
 in his hand he grasped a bloody dagger, and 
 that his clothes were sprinkled thick with spots 
 of blood. Probably he had not observed me, 
 for his head was turned backwards, and he 
 almost ran against me. 
 
 “ An involuntary exclamation, on my part, 
 caused him to start, and turn his face full upon 
 me, and in my turn I started at recognising in 
 it that of the person who had just been em- 
 ploying my thoughts. The recognition \ras 
 mutual ; for, with a fierce execration, he aimed 
 a blow at me with his bloody weapon, exclaim- 
 ing, at the same time, 4 Take it, and go to 
 hell V Without difficulty I parried the blow, 
 and tried to seize him ; but eluding my grasp 
 in his turn, and warding me off with a sweep 
 of his dagger he sprung past me, and a turn in 
 the lane shut him out from my view. All 
 passed like lightning ; but the cries from the 
 Hummaum continuing with unremitting vio- 
 lence, instead of following the ruffian, I hurried 
 on to yield what assistance I could to those 
 who seemed so much to require it. 
 
 “ Stopping at the door of the Hummaum, 
 which being occupied by women, no man could, 
 of course, enter without a breach of propriety, 
 I called out, c In the name of Allah what has 
 
THE BUCHTI AREE ADVENTURER, 221 
 
 happened? Can a man, such as I am, be of 
 use ?’ Immediately the door was opened, and 
 the Hummaumchee, with a female, cried out, 
 6 If you are a Mussulmaun, for Allans sake, go 
 for a surgeon ; here is a miserable creature of 
 God bleeding to death/ 
 
 66 6 I know of no surgeon near this place/ 
 replied I, c but I am a dervish, as you see, and 
 know something of surgery.’ 
 
 “ ‘ It is Alice, it is Allee/ exclaimed the 
 woman, * in the name of God, enter. Thou 
 art our master’s friend ; look at this miserable 
 wretch, and say whether you can do her any 
 good . 
 
 “ I now recollected the voice as belonging 
 to one of the Meerza’s women, and a thrill of 
 apprehension seized me as I descended into 
 the outer apartment of the bath, where, sur- 
 rounded by several women, who had hastily 
 thrown on their chaders , lay the victim of this 
 murderous attack. By the dim light of a 
 miserable lamp, I could just distinguish, 
 stretched on one of the undressing places, a 
 figure, partly covered with a sheet, which was 
 dyed with blood. The deep sobs which issued, 
 at intervals, from her breast alone, gave token 
 that she still lived, for the limbs were motion- 
 less as those of one already dead. 
 
 “ 6 For the sake of Allah ! who is it ?’ asked 
 I of a female, who was pressing a handkerchief 
 upon the poor creature’s bosom. 
 
222 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 “ Ai Wahi ! Ai Wahi ! ” exclaimed the voice 
 of the Meerza’s wife, “ it is Fatmeh !” 
 
 “ Merciful Allah \” cried I, horror-struck at 
 a catastrophe, the cause as well as the perpe- 
 tration of which I so well knew; “ but where 
 is she hurt ; perhaps we may yet save her/’ 
 
 uc Alas! see P said she, and removing the 
 sheet from the upper part of the body, she 
 gave to view a deep and gaping wound in the 
 breast, from which immediately there gushed 
 forth a tide of crimson blood. A glance was 
 sufficient, and my heart sunk with deep sorrow, 
 at witnessing the fate of so fair and lovely a 
 creature. The women gazed on me in silence, 
 awaiting my opinion and directions. Alas ! 
 both were useless, for even while we gazed, the 
 poor girl’s breast heaved with a convulsive 
 effort; a torrent of blood gushed from her 
 mouth ; her limbs were agitated for a moment, 
 with a shuddering movement, and then settled 
 into stillness — she was dead ! I have wit- 
 nessed death in many shapes, and under every 
 possible circumstances, God knows; but seldom 
 have I been more deeply moved than by that 
 short painful scene. 
 
 “ The consternation of the Meerza, at this 
 atrocious outrage, was excessive. He spoke as 
 if he felt his own doom was sealed. From 
 being cheerful and cordial in his demeanour 
 he became sad and taciturn, as if he brooded 
 over his impending fate ; and after struggling 
 
THE BUCIITIAllEE ADVENTURER. 223 
 
 with his feelings and apprehensions, for a 
 while, he declared that at Koom, he could not 
 and would not remain. This resolution, indeed, 
 he made known only to a few in whom he 
 thought he could place confidence ; and he 
 made his preparations for leaving the place in 
 secret. In the meantime every possible search 
 was made for the murderer, but in vain. I 
 discovered, indeed, through my own agents, that 
 he had more than once been seen, previously 
 to, and even on the very day of the murder, 
 in various parts of the city. It was not to be 
 wondered at, that immediately after it he 
 should disappear. 
 
 “ At length the time of the Meerza’s de- 
 parture arrived. He resolved to return to 
 Ispahan, where he thought he should be more 
 secure from his remorseless kinsman, and 
 where the society of his friends, and ancient 
 comrades would efface from his recollection 
 the painful scenes of Koom. He made it his 
 request that I should accompany him; and 
 having in reality no other call upon me, from 
 duty or otherwise, at the time, I willingly as- 
 sented. 
 
 “ Never did I see a man more exhilarated 
 than the Meerza, on the morning, w T hen all 
 things having been arranged by his Nazir, (the 
 old servant of whom I have already spoken, 
 as the person who recognised his nephew,) 
 
224 
 
 ALLEE NEEMR00, 
 
 no obstacle presented itself to his leaving the 
 place. For several days previously, he had 
 been restless and uneasy, like a man labouring 
 under some painful load, from which he sought 
 relief in vain. He now mounted his ambling 
 mule with alacrity, as if anxious to secure his 
 safety and deliverance, by rapid movement from 
 the scene of his distress. His departure was 
 not so secret, but that a few of his friends 
 assembled to bid him Khodah-Hafiz.” Yet 
 though he responded with kindness and warmth 
 to their greetings, he could not repress strong 
 symptoms of impatience, even at this short 
 delay. 
 
 “ Contrary to usual custom, instead of mak- 
 ing a short stage to some neighbouring village 
 or garden, the Meerza insisted on proceeding 
 at once to Passangoon, where he arrived in 
 excellent spirits. He believed himself now 
 safe, and thought he had burst the spell, which in 
 binding him to Koom seemed to weigh upon 
 his heart like the doom of death. 
 
 iC The next day, we halted at the caravanse- 
 rai, Sin-sin ; and as the following march to 
 Cashan was a long one, the old man retired at 
 an early hour, in order that we might mount 
 our horses before daylight on the morrow. 
 At the evening’s meal, he was particularly kind, 
 and, with his own hand, gave me several choice 
 morsels from the dishes before him. The cell or 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 225 
 
 chamber, in which he was to repose, was in a 
 sheltered corner (for the wind was high and 
 cold) and consisted of an outer and an inner 
 compartment. In the former we had dined ; 
 the inner had been swept out and carpeted, for 
 his sleeping place, and the harem occupied the 
 two neighbouring chambers. In the outer, or 
 ante-room of the Meerza’s apartment slept two 
 servants, one being the old Nazir, w 7 ho usually 
 lay across his master’s threshold. As for me, 
 I spread my carpet in a cell, on the opposite 
 side of the angle to that which they occupied ; 
 'where, 1 'after the old man had retired, I with- 
 drew and remained rapt in contemplation 
 for several hours. At length, sleep stole upon 
 me, without my being sensible of it, and from 
 the reveries of wakeful memory, I passed un- 
 awares into the region of dreams. 
 
 “ It was scarcely, perhaps, remarkable that 
 the subject which occupied so much of my 
 waking thoughts, should recur to my mind in 
 sleep ; but there was something singularly strik- 
 ing in the dream which now visited me. I 
 thought I was once more travelling with my 
 former master, the Sheikh. We were in all the 
 bustle of the Sahn, or great square at Mushed, 
 in the stream of comers and goers in front of 
 the shrine itself ; and many a face, that had 
 been familiar to me there, flitted to and fro. 
 It was a scene, which should have teemed with 
 
 L 3 
 
2 26 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 joyful recognitions, yet no joy was there. A 
 gloom hung like a chilling clamp on every 
 countenance, and was heavy on my own breast. 
 The scene changed insensibly into a wild suc- 
 cession of images and - places, which whirled 
 rapidly through my brain ; but the same de- 
 pressing influence was upon them all. At 
 length it seemed that we were labouring through 
 a dreary wilderness, with naked crumbling rocks 
 on one hand, and the white crust of a salt 
 marsh on the other; and I knew that it was 
 the valley of the Ma le ek-u l- Mont— of the angel 
 of death, which we had so lately passed through 
 on the road from Koom. The Sheikh was still 
 with me, and though his face was sad and 
 gloomy, I felt comfort in his presence. The 
 wind howled drearily, and a storm enveloped 
 us ; yet still we pursued our way. 
 
 a The thunder roared, and the lightning 
 flashed, and I heard a voice through the din — 
 a voice which thrilled to my very marrow, and 
 which said in hollow and mysterious tones ; 6 Ye 
 haste in vain ! for both are summoned, but one 
 is taken P and I looked at my companion, when, 
 lo ! it was the Meerza ! 
 
 66 Again the scene was changed, and we were 
 all at Koom, setting in the Assembly, as it had 
 met there to examine and punish the delinquent 
 fakeers ; and the same voice was heard again 
 saying, ‘ Where is the criminal ? ? It was an- 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 227 
 
 swered by another which exclaimed in accents 
 of thunder, * He is here for vengeance ! 5 and 
 a form of gigantic size, which I knew to be the 
 Meerza’s nephew, overshadowed the place and 
 appeared to strike the old man, who withered 
 under the blow. 
 
 “ But again there was a change. I was in 
 the Hummaum, and surrounded by women, 
 and bending over the body of the unfortunate 
 Fatmeh, when a hand removed the sheet, and 
 behold it was that of the Meerza ! Stepping 
 back in horror, I saw that it was the Sheikh 
 who had raised the veil, and again was heard 
 that thrilling voice ; 6 Faithful guardian/ it 
 said, f thou whose eye neither closes nor sleeps, 
 awake ! awake !’ 
 
 “And with a start I did awake, and found 
 that the fire, which was burning when last I had 
 seen it, was now extinguished, and the cell, in 
 darkness. For some moments I remained 
 pondering over the vivid images, that had 
 passed through my sleeping mind, so vividly 
 that I could scarce persuade myself they were 
 not realities ! but, with reflection, came alarm ; 
 they resembled rather a vision than a dream, 
 and I became so uneasy at what seemed so 
 extraordinary a warning, that I resolved to 
 satisfy myself, at least, that all was right before 
 again resigning myself to sleep. 
 
 “ Accordingly I left my cell and, crossing the 
 
228 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 angle, went straight towards the Meerza* s apart- 
 ment. While mounting the terrace, that stretched 
 before the line of cells, methought I heard a 
 movement in that occupied by the Meerza, and 
 I pressed forward to the door. Cautiously 
 removing the screen which hung in front, I 
 found the place faintly illuminated by the rays 
 of a night lamp, which burned in the Meerza’s 
 chamber. The separating curtain of the inner 
 apartment had fallen to one side, and permitted 
 the light to enter the antechamber. Across the 
 doorway still lay the servant, buried, as it 
 seemed, in sleep ; but from within came the 
 sounds of struggling and smothered groans. 
 Full of my dream I sprang forward, calling on 
 the servant to rise, and see what was the 
 matter; but he stirred not, and, at that mo- 
 ment, a man rushed forth with garments all 
 disordered, who, leaping over the servant’s 
 body, made straight for the outer door. I 
 threw myself in his way, and grappling with 
 him unawares, hurled him to the ground. He 
 looked upward, and my eyes met the features 
 of Mehdee Koolee, inflamed with the same 
 satanic glare that was so well imprinted on my 
 memory. 
 
 “ By this time the other servant was awake ; 
 and full of apprehension for the Meerza, I 
 called on him to secure the ruffian, and hurried 
 to the inner chamber. Alas ! my worst fears 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 229 
 
 were verified ! There lay the good old man, 
 senseless, lifeless, his eyes starting from their 
 sockets from the force of the murderer’s grasp 
 upon his throat. No blood was to be seen, for 
 none had been shed. He had been despatched 
 by other means than the dagger, for it was 
 evident the victim’s breath had been stopped by 
 strangling. It was a horrible sight ; yet, still 
 in hopes that the spark of life might not be 
 utterly extinct, I hurried back to the outer cell 
 to alarm the attendants and procure assistance* 
 a I found the servant, whom I had left in 
 charge of the prisoner, rising slowly from the 
 ground, where he had been forcibly thrown by 
 the latter, who, upon recovering himself a little 
 from his fall, had shaken off his guard and 
 succeeded in getting away. He was now’, of 
 course, not to be seen; but the servant, who, I 
 found, was the old Nazir that should have 
 slept upon the threshold, but who, on this 
 particular night, had changed places with his 
 comrade, declared to me with trembling and 
 dismay, that the murderer was no other than 
 Aga Mehdee Koolee, and that his surprise 
 and horror at the discovery were so great, that 
 he had lost all power of resistance. 
 
 “ It was not till now that we remembered 
 the other servant, who continued stretched 
 across the door sill, in ominous stillness ; and 
 when we went to raise him, we found that he. 
 
230 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 too, was dead ; a dagger was sticking up to the 
 hilt in his heart. The alarm had now spread, 
 and women and men came pouring into the 
 cell ; but all hope of recovery was vain ; the 
 good old Meerza had departed to the joys of 
 Paradise. 
 
 “ I need not dwell upon the horror and con- 
 sternation, into which the family were plunged 
 by this terrible event. The body of the Meerza 
 was carried back to be interred at Koom, while 
 his family went to Cashan for protection, until 
 they should fix upon their future plans. For 
 myself, the good old man’s death had taken 
 from me the only motive I had for visiting the 
 capital ; so, after having accompanied his body 
 back to Koom, I was once more upon the 
 world. At Koom, however, I fortunately 
 fell into the society of those who, as I before 
 mentioned, had replaced my former less repu- 
 table companions. 
 
 “ From that time my life has been strange, 
 adventurous, and checquered ; but an account 
 of it would be foreign to my purpose, 
 which was merely to inform you, not only of 
 the circumstances under which I made ac- 
 quaintance with the Sheikh-ul-Islam of Ra- 
 madan, but also with those which introduced 
 me to, and identified me with, that fraternity of 
 whom you have lately seen so much. Years 
 passed without another meeting between the 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 231 
 
 murderer and myself, but not without my re- 
 ceiving hints of his existence, in the shape of 
 various attempts upon my own ; which, though 
 they proved abortive in consequence of my 
 altered mode of life, and the peculiar character 
 of the brotherhood to which I, at that time, 
 belonged, showed that his hatred, at least, re- 
 mained unabated ; and I may mention it as a 
 striking fact, that of those persons who were 
 witnesses to his disgrace, as members of the 
 assembly at Koom, scarcely one survived the 
 twelvemonth ; and all died suddenly, or under 
 circumstances of strong suspicion. 
 
 “It was about six years ago, when my 
 situation and way of life had undergone a 
 further change, and I had become known as 
 6 Allee Neemroo, the horse-dealer , 5 that tra- 
 velling towards Ispahan with a caravan, and 
 several servants and beasts which I had pur- 
 chased, we halted at Muxood Beggee. I 
 had just seen the animals dressed and fed, as a 
 party on horseback rode into the yard ; on 
 turning to look at the new comers, my eye was 
 instantly arrested by the appearance of him 
 who was the chief. There was no mistaking 
 the countenance of Mehdee Koolee, changed 
 though it was by the lapse of many years ; nor 
 was his proud and lofty form less recognisable, 
 though clad in the unpretending garb of a 
 respectable Moollah. 
 
232 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 “ From the momentary air of surprise, which 
 passed over his features, I suspected that the 
 recognition was not on my side only ; and my 
 conjecture was soon confirmed by the appear- 
 ance of one of his servants, after his master 
 had made his arrangements for the night, who 
 brought me a complimentary message from that 
 personage, intimating that he believed me to 
 be an old acquaintance, and requesting the 
 pleasure of my company. Little as I was 
 disposed to renew my acquaintance with such a 
 man, it was clearly, as I conceived, against 
 prudence to set him at defiance, or by evincing 
 reluctance to an interview and rejecting a 
 common civility, to allow him to insinuate 
 that fear, or a consciousness of guilt induced 
 me to repel his advances. I, therefore, replied 
 with courtesy? and in a short time did actually 
 repair to his chamber. 
 
 “ He received me with affected cordiality; 
 asked repeatedly after my health ; assured me 
 that my place had been long very empty in his 
 heart, and, finally requested to learn what had 
 become of me since we parted ; whence I was, 
 and whither I was going. 
 
 To all this I replied in general terms ; and, 
 after smoking a calleeoon, would have retired ; 
 but he requested me to stay with him a little 
 longer, and finally informing me he had some- 
 thing to say to me in private, proposed making 
 
THE BUCIITIAREE ADVENTURER. 23 3 
 
 a khelwut, or clearing the room, for the pur- 
 pose of communicating it. This was not agree- 
 able ; yet, surely it was not I, who had cause to 
 shrink from such an interview, and as for 
 treachery, although the risk of such a thing 
 might cross my thoughts, I had for many years 
 been too much in the habit of relying on my 
 own resources, and was too confident in my own 
 powers, to dwell with any alarm, on such a con- 
 tingency. I therefore acquiesced ; and the at- 
 tendants having left the apartment, the Moot- 
 wullee^s nephew drew near and addressed me 
 as follows : — 
 
 66 6 It is long since we parted, Allee, and we 
 did so under circumstances, which I fear you 
 have not forgotten, though I could wish they 
 were blotted for ever from the memories of 
 both. Tell me, my friend, can it not be so V 
 
 “ 6 What reply can I make to such words 
 said I, ‘ the memory is not a garden from which 
 you may pull the weeds and leave the flowers. 
 Yet, where is the man who can say there is 
 nothing I would forget ? If you repent of your 
 crimes, and would wash them out along with 
 their remembrance, it is well ; for repentance is 
 as medicine to the soul, and giveth health to 
 the spirit/ 
 
 “‘Well, well,’ replied he with some im- 
 patience, 6 no doubt I repent. I may have 
 credit for that at least, but others should for- 
 
234 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 get. Listen to me, man ; when we parted, it 
 was as enemies ; I confess it, and you know it ; 
 that is enough. I would be your friend again ; 
 do you consent V 
 
 uf As for friendship,- Mehdee,’ replied I, 
 * where would be the use of it to either of us ? 
 Our paths in life are different; we may never 
 meet again ; and to tell the truth the seldom we 
 meet the better. I desire not such friendship/ 
 
 “ 6 Be-Jehcmnum !’ muttered he between his 
 teeth. But recollecting himself a little, he 
 continued in a more temperate tone, 6 In the 
 name of God, Allee, understand me ; you don’t 
 imagine I mean the friendship of two beardless 
 boys, or girls in their teens ; I mean that of 
 men, who know the world and the value of 
 reciprocal assistance : but, if we cannot be 
 friends, we need not at least be foes. Iraun is 
 wide enough for us both, so why should we 
 cross each other’s path ? Give ear then, and 
 learn my meaning ; for you know it is not my 
 fashion to throw words away. Since we parted, 
 I have changed my dress, and my habits with 
 it; I am now a Moollah, as you see, a fakeer,* 
 a meek and simple priest, who am regarded as 
 a respectable and pious doctor of the law and 
 of our holy religion. God be praised for all 
 his blessings ! I confess, however, that there 
 
 Meaning here strictly 1 1 poor in spirit.' 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 235 
 
 are some passages in my former life, which 
 accord not well with my present calling, and 
 which, if maliciously represented, might affect 
 the good name which I now enjoy. Many of 
 those, who were privy to the circumstances, 
 have gone to heaven or hell ; you, almost alone, 
 remain. All the friendship I ask of you 
 is silence : it will hurt neither, but do good 
 to both 3 do you consent to observe it ?’ 
 
 “ It were needless to repeat the whole of our 
 long conversation. In substance it was as 
 follows : — My former comrade, who was now, 
 I found, known by the appellation of Meerza 
 Jemal-u-deen, the comeliness of the true faith, 
 had appeared at Ispahan, and in his father’s 
 house, some time after the events at Koom and 
 at Sin-Sin 3 and, having abjured his errors, and 
 made the toveh* for his crimes and misde- 
 meanours, those at least known to the public, 
 was received into favour 3 and after living some 
 time in a respectable and creditable way, so far 
 at least as externals went, became regarded as a 
 Moollah, and through the interest of his father 
 obtained several lucrative offices in the mosques 
 or medressas of Ispahan. The good name he 
 had regained with so much difficulty, he had 
 found by experience it was essential for his 
 own comfort to preserve 3 and in order to 
 
 * Recantation, or abjuration and repentance. 
 
236 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 secure its permanence, he had spared neither 
 pains nor blood. Mine he would gladly have 
 also spilt as that of the most dangerous witness, 
 who could be brought against him ; but having 
 found me so securely guarded as to defy his 
 best laid plots, the only alternative left him 
 was to conciliate me. 
 
 “ Having broken the ice, he now talked 
 plainly enough. He admitted my power over 
 his credit and good name ; but reminded me, 
 that I also had lived long as an acknowledged 
 Sooffee ; that he had cause to believe me still 
 connected with that fraternity, who were then 
 in such bad odour with both the Shah and the 
 priests, that to accuse a man of Sooffeeism was 
 almost tantamount to dooming him to de- 
 struction ; that he also had much in his power, 
 through his father and the influential Moollahs, 
 as well as through the Shah himself ; and that, 
 he, therefore, would propose a mutual forbear- 
 ance ; that I should do nothing to hurt him in 
 public opinion, and that he, on his part, would 
 promise to use no influence against myself or 
 any of my friends, but, on the contrary, would 
 aid us on all occasions when required, in pro- 
 viding for our safety when in danger. 
 
 “To these terms I assented; I had reasons 
 for so doing, which the Meerza could not 
 have known , and even though fearing him not, 
 yet knowing the daring, unprincipled character 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 237 
 
 of the man, I felt myself more independent 
 and secure from thus neutralizing a hostility so 
 restless and persevering as his had proved 
 to be. 
 
 “ Small reliance, however, should I have 
 placed on his observance of such a compact, 
 had not circumstances occurred that even 
 while augmenting the power I held over him, 
 tended rather to give the Meerza an interest in 
 my life, than to increase his desire for my death. 
 But therewas one fact, which, till now, I have 
 never divulged to any one, above all not to him ; 
 a fact which places him at my mercy. This 
 fact is the existence of the servant who saw him 
 rushing from the Meerza's chamber on the 
 night of his murder ; from whose hands he on 
 that occasion made his escape. This man, after 
 recovering from his wounds, conscious that his 
 life was unsafe in Irak, took refuge at the 
 shrine of Ardebeel, in Azerbijan, where he still 
 remains ; and could, if required, be produced 
 to corroborate the statement I may at any time 
 make against him. 
 
 “ It is to the consciousness of the power I 
 possess, though ignorant of its full extent, 
 and which I have converted to more active 
 and hazardous expedients, that you owe 
 your present safety ; and though I should not 
 choose to trust to its influence alone, as a pro- 
 tection against secret practices, you may rest 
 satisfied, that in my hands you are secure ; and 
 
238 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 out of them you do not pass until the day of 
 trial is over. 
 
 66 You have now learned the origin, and in 
 some measure, the progress of my connexion 
 with that powerful fraternity whose agency I 
 have enlisted to protect you. With the history 
 of my own influence over them I cannot, now 
 at least, make you acquainted. I have explained 
 to you that among dervishes there are orders 
 and degrees. There are, in like manner, signs 
 and tokens, and modes of communication, by 
 which information is conveyed, and individuals 
 made known to each other ; and there are ob- 
 jects and purposes not altogether confined to 
 religious matters, but which all are bound to 
 promote and seek the attainment of. But 
 these you could not now comprehend any more 
 than you can comprehend the measure of 
 this mysterious power, the extent of its 
 means, or the energy and zeal of those 
 with whom it rests to direct it. Against 
 it is arrayed all the strength of the government 
 and the priesthood ; but it is arrayed in vain. 
 They may pour their petty malice on an un- 
 lucky dervish or fakeer; they may sacrifice a 
 few individuals, and thunder forth empty me- 
 naces; but they cannot crush a power which 
 pervades all Asia, from Roum to Hindustan ; 
 and which, animating with unconquerable zeal 
 the souls of myriads, will sweep away the feeble 
 barriers of despotism and bigotry, and advance 
 
THE BUCIITIAREE ADVENTURER. 239 
 
 with resistless force to the mighty objects of 
 its existence. As for the priests, their reign is 
 near its close ; and let the weak monarch, who 
 has hitherto preferred the hollow support of 
 ignorance and bigotry to the solid aids of wis- 
 dom, experience, and intelligence, beware lest 
 the tottering fabric of their sway involve him- 
 self in their certain ruin V 9 
 
 Here Allee, whose energy, during the latter 
 part of this address to his young companion, 
 had been greatly at variance with his ordinary 
 sedate and tranquil demeanour, ceased to 
 speak ; and Hoossein contemplated with wonder 
 the fire which burned in his deep seated eye, 
 and the grandeur which seemed to dilate his 
 usually unpretending person. After a pause of 
 some minutes, he again resumed the discourse, 
 which the young man made no attempt to in- 
 terrupt. 
 
 66 I have told you that you are safe under my 
 eye and protection ; but I have not yet told you 
 all. It is necessary that you should know 
 precisely the ground on which we stand. Not- 
 withstanding the firman of pardon obtained by 
 you from the Shah, it appears that your enemy 
 has been at work, and successfully too ; for he 
 has obtained a special order to seize your person, 
 and put you to death, for crimes alleged against 
 you ; of which contempt of the royal com- 
 mands, and an attempt on the life of the 
 
240 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 Sheikh-ul Islam, are among the number. Nay, 
 listen and hear all. This order has been wrung 
 from the Shah by the Moollahs, who find it 
 their interest to support the Sheikh, notwith- 
 standing his known evil character, on ac- 
 count of the ability which he has displayed in 
 maintaining the influence of their order, and in 
 repressing Sooffeeism. 
 
 “ Had it not been for this royal ruckum, I 
 should at once have carried you off, and there 
 would have been an end of the matter. But our 
 antagonist having gained so great an advantage, 
 we must proceed with increased caution. To 
 Ispahan you now must go, and there abide 
 your trial. We must not choose such an occa- 
 sion for resisting the Shah’s firman. Such 
 contumacy might give our enemies a fatal hold 
 upon us ; and they could, besides, enlist the 
 civil and military authorities upon their side, 
 and the issue of such a contest w T ould at best 
 be doubtful. Thus the firman must be 
 obeyed; but you shall proceed to the capital 
 under my charge alone, nor shall you quit it 
 until transferred to the hands of the Shah’s 
 officers, who, for their own sakes, will take care 
 of you.” 
 
 “ But,” said Hoossein, breaking silence, at 
 last, “ if the influence exerted with the Shah 
 has been so powerful as to obtain this order of 
 arrest, in spite of his own sense of justice, and 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 241 
 
 the former firman of pardon, how am I to hope 
 for a fair trial and a fortunate issue, under such 
 circumstances ? No doubt the Moollahs, 
 having got me into their power, will comply 
 with the Sheikh-ul-Islam’s desires, and have 
 me put to death.” 
 
 “ Allah forbid, my son,” replied Allee, Ci fear 
 not that ! A host of friends shall watch 
 over thee, and secure thy safety ; they can 
 penetrate the royal prisons, ay, or the royal 
 harem, were that necessary to your safety. 
 Should the imbecile Shah be unable to con- 
 firm his first decree of free and full forgiveness, 
 we must, in that case, adopt our own means 
 for effecting the purpose which he cannot. 
 Of that rest satisfied ; not a hair of your head 
 shall be touched, not a limb be harmed. You 
 have seen cause to confide in the power of 
 those who have sworn to save you; and to sum 
 up all, the mode we have fixed upon is the 
 only sure and certain one of attaining our 
 ends. Take courage ! In spite of Shah, Priest, 
 and Moollah, we shall succeed. Ispahan is 
 our strong-hold, and there we must prevails 
 
 Hoossein paused in thought ; the situation 
 was a singular one, nor was the prospect alto 
 gether clear before him. With life and freedom, 
 as it might seem within his grasp, to be thus 
 forced to place himself in the hands of his 
 enemies, with nought to trust to but a power, 
 
 VOL. in. M 
 
242 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 the influence of which might not, at the very 
 moment of need, avail, it appeared a dan- 
 gerous game. Yet where was the remedy? Had 
 he not, too, already experienced the extraordi- 
 nary vigilance and activity of this very power ? 
 Why then should doubts harass him ? Why should 
 he not at once resign himself to what appeared 
 inevitable, and lay hold upon the means which 
 had already been effectual to his preservation ? 
 While these thoughts passed through his mind, 
 he remembered the ring that had been given 
 to him by the prince, and producing it, he 
 showed it to Allee Neemroo, informing him, at 
 the same time, of the circumstances under 
 which he had received it. 
 
 “ Think you,” said he, “ that this ring can 
 be of use in the present case ? v 
 
 “ A singular coincidence this, indeed/ 5 said 
 Allee, examining the signet with interest. “ I 
 have no doubt of its influence on Meerza 
 Taher ; and with him to aid you, the matter 
 will be simple. And now give ear and remem- 
 ber my instructions. After your arrival in 
 Ispahan, wherever you may be placed, you 
 will receive a visit from one of my agents, 
 whom you will know by a sign that shall be 
 taught you. Show him that ring, entrust it to 
 him if he request it, and leave the rest to 
 him." 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 243 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 THE TRIAL. 
 
 In a few days, the Sheikh-ul- Islam took his 
 departure for the capital ; and in his train went 
 Hoossein, under the charge of Allee Neemroo. 
 The first part of the journey was performed 
 without accident and in comfort, the only 
 drawback on the part of the former to enjoy- 
 ment being the doubt, which in spite of Allee’s 
 repeated assurances, he could not shake off, as 
 to what might be his fate on arriving at Is- 
 pahan, and the far more disquieting uncertainty 
 regarding that of his beloved Ausieh. But, by 
 the time they arrived at Gilpaigaun, a fresh 
 cause of anxiety was added to the rest, in the 
 sudden absence of his friend Allee, whose 
 place was filled by the gloomy and taciturn 
 Noor Shah, who, to all the earnest inquiries of 
 Hoossein, regarding the friend who was his 
 sole hope and support in so trying a situation, 
 would return no reply, except the one so often 
 reiterated, that time and patience would dis- 
 cover all ; that his person was as secure as when 
 Allee himself was with him, and that business 
 
 m 2 
 
244 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 of importance, which could neither be transacted 
 by deputy, nor deferred, had called that 
 personage away. 
 
 Little comfort did all this convey to Hoos- 
 sein, who, such is the infirmity of human 
 nature, began, in spite of the many proofs he 
 had received of Allee^s attachment and earnest 
 efforts to save him, to entertain apprehensions 
 that he was abandoned, and that finding the 
 combination too powerful to be withstood with 
 hope of success, his friend had withdrawn and 
 left him to his fate. Such thoughts w r ere, 
 however, but passing clouds, the exhalations 
 of despondency, which will rise on the mind in 
 hours of lassitude and exhaustion ; but which 
 are dissipated by the bright sun of reviving 
 hope on the morning of a new day. Noor 
 Shah had hitherto proved a faithful though a 
 blunt uncourteous protector ; and why was he 
 to be doubted now ? So Hoossein tranquil- 
 lized his mind, and though it was not without 
 a pang that he passed the mouth of the glen 
 that led to his own once pleasant home, he 
 completed the remainder of the journey with 
 composure, if not with cheerfulness. 
 
 The party entered Ispahan almost at the 
 same hour that Hoossein with the village 
 deputies had reached it on his first memorable 
 visit ; and the sight of the vast city covering 
 the plain with its world of mingled palaces and 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 245 
 
 hovels, the long bazaars with their living stream 
 of men and animals, and the roar of the busy 
 crowd, called up a flood of touching recollec- 
 tions in his mind. The present stood in strange 
 and dubious contrast with the past. Was the 
 promise on which his hopes now rested to be 
 less fallacious than the last ? Was the whisper 
 of future rest and joy, that now and then arose 
 in his soul, to be trusted ? Plunged into the 
 bustle of the bazaar, he was roused from these 
 reflections by the rude voice of a servant of 
 the Sheikhas, who commanded him to keep up 
 with the cavalcade, and directed some of the 
 armed attendants to take care that the prisoner 
 did not give them the slip. 
 
 The expression rung harshly on his ear ; nor 
 was the pain it produced at all alleviated, when, 
 after reaching the Maidaun Shahee, the party 
 halted for awhile at the Allee kapi gate, 
 where the Darogha of the police having been 
 summoned to speak with the Sheikh-ul-Islam, 
 Hoossein was given over to the hands of that 
 officer’s furoshes. While being led forward 
 from his station in the cavalcade to the pre- 
 sence of the Darogha, the young man cast a 
 look upon his persecutor, in whose counte- 
 nance though tranquil he could easily detect a 
 malicious satisfaction little calculated to give 
 comfort to his victim; but no long time 
 was permitted him to dwell upon it, for the 
 
246 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO. 
 
 furoshes, at the order of their master hurried 
 him off towards a pile of building, within the 
 precincts of the palace, near the quarters of 
 the royal guard. There, in an inner cell, and 
 once more strongly bound, was he left to pass 
 the night. A meal was furnished which hunger 
 forced him to devour ; but no further commu- 
 nication was permitted from without. 
 
 By dawn of morning, however, Hoossein 
 was awakened by the opening of his cell ; and 
 looking towards the entrance became aware of 
 the presence of two men, who advanced di- 
 rectly tow r ards him. One, a stranger, probably 
 one of the Darogha’s people, and his guard, 
 having merely cast a glance over his person, as 
 if to see that all was right, took up the empty 
 dishes and returned towards the door. There 
 was something, however, in the appearance of 
 the other, though dressed like his companion, 
 which seemed familiar to Hoossein, though he 
 could not recollect the features. He also ap- 
 proached, and leaning down towards him, as 
 he still remained seated, uttered in a low tone 
 the following words, Behak-e-Koodrut-ul- 
 Kudeer ! Nishan be deh !* 
 
 The young man knew that this was the 
 promised visitor, and hope revived in his soul. 
 Instantly pulling out his ring, he showed it to 
 
 * Give me the token. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 247 
 
 the dervish, for such he knew him to be, re- 
 plying, 
 
 u Nishan hameen ust .— This is the token.” 
 
 “ It is well,” replied the other, “ give it to 
 me.” 
 
 Hoossein cast a searching look on the der- 
 vish, who comprehended the cause of his irre- 
 solution. “ Doubt not,” said he. u Gold while 
 in the mine continues dross; to be useful it 
 must be used. Remember Elwund and Kerman- 
 shah.” Hoossein on hearing these words, fully 
 convinced, gave the ring ; the men retired, and 
 he patiently awaited the result. 
 
 This was not far distant. On the afternoon 
 of the same day, two officials belonging to the 
 Dewan-Beggee came to Hoosseiffis place of 
 confinement, and dragged him, bound as he 
 was, to the tribunal of that officer. The brutal 
 manner in which this was performed, and the 
 absence of even a single friendly countenance to 
 cheer the prisoner as he went to trial, perhaps 
 to death, was sufficiently depressing in spite of 
 all his new raised hopes ; nor was it particularly 
 encouraging to observe among those, who occu- 
 pied the apartment where the judge was seated, 
 the Sheikh-ul-Islam himself, supported by 
 several priests and Moollahs. Still Hoossein 
 desponded not. He knew his danger and the 
 power arrayed against them. He knew that 
 innocence or guilt was of little moment, be- 
 
248 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 cause the true question was not whether he 
 were guilty, but how he might most effectually 
 be crushed ; still the visit of the morning had 
 re-assured him. It afforded proof that he was 
 not abandoned ; that a powerful influence was 
 stirring in his favour, and in spite of the lower- 
 ing aspect of present circumstances, his bosom 
 beat with hope. 
 
 Being led through the crowd which occupied 
 the court, to the front of the window where 
 the judge sat, the furoshes meanwhile holding 
 the band which secured his arms and every 
 now and then giving him a punch or a blow, 
 with their large sticks, that personage inquired 
 what crime was laid to the prisoners charge ? 
 A secretary having informed him of this, and 
 having read the specified offences, the accuser’s 
 witnesses were called for ; upon w T hich seve- 
 ral persons came forward, and declared 
 that the prisoner was known to them as one of 
 the principals in an attack made upon a party 
 of unoffending travellers, who had sought hos- 
 pitality and accommodation at the village, some 
 of them being servants of his Majesty, others 
 attendants upon the Sheikh- ul- 1 slam of Ra- 
 madan ; and several of whom had lost their 
 lives in the fray ; the whole being done in 
 defiance of a royal Ruckum, and thus amount- 
 ing to an act of rebellion against his Majesty. 
 
 No sooner had this testimony been given, 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 249 
 
 than there arose a yell of women and children, 
 who along with several men rushed forward, 
 calling aloud for justice on the murderer of 
 their relatives, their husbands, fathers, bro- 
 thers, sons ; blood for blood, and life for life ! 
 
 “And what hast thou, unfortunate wretch, to 
 say to all this? Thou hearest what these 
 allege against thee ? What madness has 
 turned so young a man into so atrocious a mur- 
 derer and rebel ? Speak, and tell the truth.” 
 
 On this appeal, Hoossein stept forward, so 
 as to be more within hearing of the Dewan- 
 Beggee. He first made a solemn denial of the 
 alleged charges, and then gave as short and 
 clear account as he could, of the circumstances 
 that had led to the fatal event in the village, 
 now so invidiously and falsely brought against 
 himself ; setting forth how a deputation had 
 come from the village, which having humbly 
 represented the case to his majesty, by regular 
 petition, had received the royal pardon for the 
 very offence of which he was now again ac- 
 cused ; that on their return they had found 
 the village plundered and destroyed, as was 
 believed, by a party of the same persons who 
 had committed the first outrage, supported by 
 a band of thieving Buchtiarees ; and that he, 
 having been sent to inquire after the fate of 
 the captives, and to negociate for their redemp- 
 tion or release, had been taken captive him- 
 
 m 3 
 
250 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 self by the Sheikh-ul-Islam’s servants, and by 
 him carried prisoner to Ispahan, upon this 
 false accusation ; that as for the blood which 
 had been shed, he had nothing to do with it, 
 having sought rather to save than to destroy 
 even the very ruffians who had insulted them, 
 and having in fact succeeded in preserving one, 
 if not more, from the hands of the enraged 
 peasants. 
 
 The judge heard him patiently, suppressing, 
 from time to time, the noise which was fre- 
 quently made by his clamorous accusers, and 
 giving him full time to make his statement. 
 When he had concluded, the Dewan-Beggee 
 took up the discourse, saying “ All this sounds 
 very well, young man ; but where are the 
 witnesses of your veracity ? How are we to 
 know that all this is truth, and that you are 
 not attempting to throw dust in our eyes, and 
 thus to defeat the objects of justice ?” 
 
 “My lord,” replied Hoossein, “your ser- 
 vant would represent, that he was made pri- 
 soner far from his home ; and expecting no- 
 thing of what has happened, is unprepared 
 with witnesses; of whom, however, his own 
 village could even yet furnish a sufficient num- 
 ber. There are others, too; but how, thus 
 bound and confined, am I to discover them ?” 
 
 “Son of a dog!” exclaimed the Sheik-ul- 
 Islam himself, unable, as it appeared, to bridle 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 251 
 
 his impatience and displeasure at the oppor- 
 tunity thus given the young man of speaking 
 in self-defence ; 66 Son of a dog ! thou knowest 
 well that to prove what thou hast advanced is 
 impossible ; that neither can any case of out- 
 rage or insult against thy miserable village be 
 made out; nor that any pardon was granted 
 by his Majesty for the crime committed in 
 repelling that alleged outrage. Why should 
 the Dewan-Beggee give ear to such a Napak 
 (unclean villain) ? He has the word and assu- 
 rance of ourself, who was near the spot, and 
 made all suitable inquiries into the affair ; and 
 if he requires . further evidence, he may have 
 that of many persons far more deserving of 
 credit than any the culprit could, by possibility 
 bring forward, were he even at large. Let not 
 precious time then be wasted, but let justice 
 have free course ; and direct the culprit to be 
 delivered into the hands of those whose rela 
 tives he has wantonly murdered.” 
 
 “ It is assuredly true,” said the judge, “that 
 in the absence of witnesses his assertions 
 are valueless, and cannot weigh against the 
 word of the Sheikh-ul-Islam. But thou saidst 
 there was other testimony besides thy fellow 
 villagers who are absent; name this testimony, 
 that we may judge how far thy words are to be 
 depended on or otherwise ?” 
 
 “ Alas !” replied Hoossein, whose hopes be- 
 
252 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 gan to sink at observing the effect produced 
 by the speech of his enemy, “what can I say? 
 what use is there in speaking, when my words 
 are set down against me as untruths ? But, by 
 the head of the Dewan-Beggee, and by the 
 Shah^s crown, I swear, not only that all I have 
 stated is strictly true, but that Allee Yerdee 
 Khan, the Wali of Louristan himself, were he 
 present, could affirm to the fact of the Shah 
 having directed the Perwanneh of pardon to 
 be delivered to us; and it was accordingly given 
 to my father and other elders of Ameenabad, 
 who, no doubt, could still produce it.” 
 
 “Hear ye his lies! his barefaced falsehoods!” 
 said the Sheikh-ul-Islam, with a taunting tone. 
 “ Well has he chosen to take the name of an 
 absent nobleman, who cannot disclaim the un- 
 warrantable freedom ! Had the Wali been 
 here, w T e should have had no such impudent 
 assertion. Why waste we time on such trash!” 
 “So far as his assertions respecting the 
 Wali are concerned,” remarked an old man, 
 who was seated in a corner of the Dewan-Beg- 
 gee* s apartment, “ I can myself bear witness to 
 his speaking correctly ; for I was at the salaam 
 that morning, and remember well the Wali 
 pleading the cause of the villagers of Ameena- 
 bad. I remember, too, that his Majesty issued 
 orders for making out the Perwanneh of par- 
 don.” 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 253 
 
 “ In the name of Allah, Hadjee Asker !’’ said 
 the Sheikh-ul-Islam, frowning on the person 
 who had last spoken, “ how long is it since 
 you have set up as the defender of villains and 
 murderers, and begun to oppose justice ? See 
 these poor people demanding vengeance ; the 
 price of blood for relatives murdered by this 
 young Kumbucht * — you do not mean to say 
 they have not lost their relatives ? Then why 
 seek, for a moment, to deprive them of what is 
 their due by our sacred law ? W ullah Billah ! 
 this savours not of your usual wisdom, Had- 
 jee ?” 
 
 “ With your pardon, Meerza, I have stated 
 only the truth; and truth should be at all times 
 spoken, nor should any creature of God be 
 denied the benefit of it, especially when life is 
 at stake. Defender of villains and murderers ! 
 La-illah-il-ullah !” 
 
 During these observations, a person entered 
 the room and whispered some words into the 
 judge’s ear. The communication appeared to 
 occasion him some perplexity ; but after a few 
 moments’ consideration, he remarked to those 
 near him, u Assuredly there must be some truth 
 in what the poor wretch has averred respecting 
 the Wali, or Hadjee Asker would never have 
 confirmed it as he has done. But, innocent or 
 
 * Wretch. 
 
254 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 guilty, the affair, after all, is one of life and 
 death, and must await the Shah’s decision ; 
 so my present resolution is merely to report 
 what has passed to his Majesty, who, no doubt, 
 will desire to see and hear'the man himself. The 
 Centre of the Universe will himself recollect, 
 no doubt, whether the accused was ever in the 
 presence, and can convict and punish him if he 
 has told us an untruth. It is my order, there- 
 fore, that the prisoner be sent back in safety to 
 his place of confinement, until his Majesty’s 
 will shall be known/’ 
 
 “ Astafferullah !” exclaimed the Sheikh-ul- 
 Xslam, in a voice of great impatience, “ God 
 forbid we should impose on the Shadow of the 
 Universe, whom may Allah long preserve ! so 
 much unnecessary trouble. What ; does the 
 matter regard a king or a state, or even the 
 governor of a province ? La-illah-il-ullah ! no ; 
 it is but a youth of the dregs of a rebellious 
 village ; a dog among dogs, who has dared to cast 
 aspersions on the wise and the learned of the 
 land. We ourselves have not escaped his defile- 
 ment ! In the name of Allah, Dewan-Beggee, 
 have done with this child’s play; settle the 
 business, send him to hell, or to the avengers 
 of blood at once, and let the vermin be brushed 
 from our path.” 
 
 u Ai Wahi! What expressions are these, 
 Meerza ?” responded the Judge, in an under 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 255 
 
 tone to the Sheikh-ul-Is!am. u Such might, 
 no doubt, be an easy way of getting rid of 
 trouble ; but would it tend to exalt the Shah’s 
 name for justice, or his humble servant’s cha- 
 racter for honest dealing? What would be- 
 come of his Majesty’s reputation as Ryot pur- 
 wur> protector of his subjects, were such to be 
 the mode of dealing with those who make state- 
 ments or complaints ? By the Shah’s death ! 
 my own head might soon be found in jeopardy. 
 Child’s play call you it ! By the holy Kaaba, I 
 might soon be called on for the price of blood 
 myself. Be satisfied ; this is the King’s affair, 
 and he must take it in hand. By your own 
 head, Meerza, were I to do otherwise, there 
 would be danger to all concerned ; and that I tell 
 you in your ear. What then ? You have in- 
 fluence with his Majesty; work that as you 
 will ; but I must do my duty.” 
 
 Dark as night grew the Sheikh-ul- Islam’s 
 face, and his eyes flashed daggers ; but the 
 Dewan-Beggee, without heeding these signs of 
 wrath, made a signal to his people, and speak 
 ing a few words to a secretary, Hoossein was 
 forthwith removed back to his place of confine- 
 ment, where he was left as before. This was a 
 reprieve almost unhoped for by the young 
 man, whose apprehensions had again been 
 strongly excited by the bitter hostility and re- 
 morseless array of false witnesses, which had 
 
256 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 been mustered to insure his destruction; and 
 again did his hopes revive, for even in this 
 temporary relief, he recognised the agency of 
 that power to which alone, under Heaven, he 
 had to trust. That mere attachment to the 
 principles of justice, or a regard for the credit 
 of his Sovereign should have led the judge to 
 treat him so leniently in the face of so power- 
 ful an opposition, seemed, after all that had 
 occurred, too improbable to be believed; and 
 he could not avoid dwelling on the possibility 
 that the long cherished and mysterious ring, 
 which only that morning he had intrusted to 
 the dervish messenger, was already operating 
 in his favour. 
 
 Of the royal tribunal he entertained less 
 dread than he did of one, in which his enemies 
 could speak at will and exert more unrestrained- 
 ly than in the presence of their sovereign their 
 rancorous animosity ; nor did he abandon the 
 hope that his Majesty might recollect the cir- 
 cumstances of his former appeal, and afford his 
 own powerful testimony to the truth of what 
 he had advanced. So he nerved his mind to 
 the trial, and resolved to watch every oppor- 
 tunity of exciting sympathy in the monarch’s 
 breast. 
 
 The day passed without further occurrence ; 
 and night found him once more the solitary te- 
 nant of his cell. Hoossein knew that it was the 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 257 
 
 royal custom to receive petitions and hear 
 causes on certain days after morning prayers ; 
 and he thought it not unlikely, that on the 
 morrow at that time, his fate might be decided. 
 But the hours passed on and still no summons 
 came. A frugal breakfast was brought him by 
 a silent attendant, who left him as soon as he 
 had eaten it. About the hour of Assr however, 
 two furoshes entered the cell, and telling him 
 to rise, led him with less rudeness than before, 
 towards the Allee-kapi. He entreated them 
 to say whither they were leading him, but the 
 only answer given was “ You will soon see. 3 ’ 
 
 As they passed through the quarters of the 
 guard, w T here there were some strangers collected 
 to gaze at the prisoners, the eye of Hoossein 
 lighted on one in the habit of a dervish, who, 
 as they advanced, stood doggedly in their path, 
 uttering low sounds, as if he sought for charity. 
 
 u Give way, madman ! 33 said one of the fu- 
 roshes. “ Give way and let us pass,” and he 
 pushed him aside. 
 
 “ Ay,” replied the dervish, “yaboos will kick, 
 and dogs will howl until they feel the stick. 
 Pass on. We regard you not. For, by the 
 mighty of mightiest, ye shall not prevail .’ 3 
 While saying this, his eye was directed to- 
 wards Hoossein with a look full of meaning. 
 The young man struck by the expression re- 
 turned the glance with one of equal intelligence. 
 
258 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 and though no more passed between them, he 
 felt assured that his friends were about him. 
 
 Hoossein was now placed in a small ante- 
 chamber, close to the seat of justice, and near 
 to the balcony, where the Shah himself was 
 wont to sit on public days. In the Maidaun 
 there was a crowd, though by no means ex- 
 cessive, for the Shah’s popularity had not 
 increased during the latter years of his reign. 
 After a lapse of some time, a bustle within, the 
 fire of camel artillery, and the salute of the 
 guards, with the striking up of the Nokara- 
 khaneh, commenced the approach of the mo- 
 narch, on whose appearance a chorus of 
 exclamations for mercy or for justice arose 
 from the sundry petitioners in the square be- 
 low. Hoossein was then brought forth in 
 front of the balcony ; but scarcely had he made 
 his appearance, when a party of men and 
 women collected together in one place, set 
 up a shrill cry, calling aloud for “ J ustice 
 on the murderer ! Blood for blood ! The 
 blood of him who had made them widows 
 or orphans ! who had slain their husbands, 
 and brothers !” Hoossein recognised in them 
 the same persons who had been so clamorous 
 before theDewan-Beggee on the preceding day. 
 
 Silence being ordered, and the petition from 
 this party being handed to his Majesty, he 
 commanded it to be read, which was done by 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 259 
 
 the chief secretary. In the meantime, Hoos- 
 sein cast his eye upwards to discover if he 
 could, who were the persons in immediate 
 attendance upon his Majesty. He could ob- 
 serve but few of the nobles or men of the 
 military order, but saw that the greater number 
 were priests or meerzas; and of these two 
 were honoured with, seats at the lower end of 
 the balcony : these were the Moollah Bashee, 
 and the Sheikh-ul-Islam of Ispahan, the latter 
 of whom he knew to be the father of his op- 
 pressor, and the gloomiest bigot of the whole 
 priesthood. The son himself, the Sheikh-ul- 
 Islam of Hamadan, stood near them, together 
 with many others of the religious orders of 
 whom he knew nothing. 
 
 The petition being read, the King com- 
 manded the accused to be brought forth ; and 
 Hoossein did think that the royal eye rested 
 upon him with a glance of recognition. “ Who 
 knows aught of the accusers ?’* demanded his 
 Majesty; “and what proof do they adduce of 
 the guilt of him they accuse ? Who answers 
 for them ?” 
 
 “ May I be your Majesty’s sacrifice,’* replied 
 a respectable looking person, coming forward, 
 “ I know the people, they are worthy of credit. 
 Their representation is correct ; I was present 
 on the occasion when their relatives were put 
 to death. That young man was one of the 
 most active among the murderers.*’ 
 
260 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 “ And I, 5 ’ said another person, stepping forth, 
 “ can also testify to that fact. The prisoner 
 certainly committed the acts he is charged 
 with/’ 
 
 “And who are these men demanded his 
 Majesty, of the Dewan-Beggee, who stood in 
 full costume in presence below. 
 
 “They represent themselves to be servants 
 of the Sheikh-ul-Islam of Hamadan, Centre of 
 the universe ! 55 replied the Dewan-Beggee ; “ fur- 
 ther they are unknown to your slave.” 
 
 The Shah looked towards the Sheikh, who 
 making his obeisance, replied, “ May I be your 
 Majesty’s sacrifice, they are, or rather were 
 my servants, and are persons worthy of credit.” 
 
 “ And what says the accused in reply to the 
 charge ?’ 5 demanded the Shah. 
 
 “ He denies the charge, Protector of the uni- 
 verse / 5 responded the Dewan-Beggee, “ and 
 avers that the men, who were killed in a fray 
 at Ameenabad, had provoked their fate, by 
 attempting to pillage the villagers and carry off 
 a girl, on pretence of having a royal order to 
 do so. 5 ’ 
 
 “ Ameenabad ? 55 repeated the Shah. “ Surely 
 there was some such affair connected with that 
 village before us not long since. Was there 
 not, Meerza Ahmed ? 55 added his Majesty turn- 
 ing to a secretary who was present. 
 
 “ There was, Protector of the universe ! A 
 deputation came from the village, and presented 
 
THE BUCHTI AREE ADVENTURER. 261 
 
 a petition at the foot of the throne ; the subject 
 matter was much the same as this now stated, 
 and a warrant of pardon was then issued by the 
 royal command. It is registered in the royal 
 records/’ 
 
 “ Then how is it that this youth stands here 
 again accused of the same crime ? 5 ’ 
 
 “ May I be your Majesty’s sacrifice,” said 
 the Sheikh-ul-Islam of Ispahan. “ It appeared 
 on further inquiry, that these men had dared, 
 on that occasion, to insult the shadow of the 
 universe by false statements ; and a ruckum 
 was granted on these grounds from the Dewan- 
 khaneh, for the apprehension and punishment 
 of certain individuals accused of being princi- 
 pals in the violence committed at the village ; 
 and the relatives of the deceased have come to 
 the foot of the throne to sue for the retribu- 
 tion of blood, which cannot be lawfully with- 
 held / 5 
 
 “ If this youth be one of the accused ,’ 5 said 
 his Majesty, “ let him speak for himself. 
 No one can lawfully be given up to the 
 avengers, until proved guilty of the crime laid 
 to his charge . 55 
 
 The royal order having been intimated to 
 Hoossein, he made a graceful obeisance, and 
 stimulated into energy by the active malice of 
 his enemies, he gave a modest and succinct 
 account of all that had occurred, and ended 
 
262 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 with a solemn denial of any particular or pre- 
 meditated share in the fray which had caused 
 the death of the Gholaums ; while, on the 
 contrary, he claimed - credit for having saved 
 more than one life, on that very occasion, by 
 his personal interference. 
 
 “ I can answer for his having saved one life, 
 at least/’ said a voice from among the crowd ; 
 u for the dagger was at my throat, when that 
 young man struck it aside, and rescued me/’ 
 f( And what hadst thou to do there ?” de- 
 manded the Shah. “ Wast thou among those 
 who sought to maltreat the King’s Ryots ?” 
 
 “ May I be your Majesty’s sacrifice ; I was 
 not then my own master; but the youth has 
 told the truth. The Ryots were provoked to do 
 what they did.” 
 
 “ Protector of the universe !” observed one 
 of the Moollahs, who stood in the apartment 
 with the King, u let thy servant be excused 
 for his presumption ; should not that man be ex- 
 amined ? He has confessed himself to have been 
 one of the party, and can tell, no doubt, every 
 thing that occurred on the occasion ; perhaps he 
 might point out the instigators of the outrage.” 
 
 66 To what purpose, Meerza Hadee, should 
 the time of the Centre of the universe be 
 wasted thus?” said the Sheikh-ul-Islam. 
 
 66 What has happened, is past. It is not 
 denied that the men were put to death, and 
 there are witnesses to the fact, that this youth 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 263 
 
 was active in the murder. What more can be 
 necessary ? v 
 
 u Nay, Meerza, with your pardon, there are 
 witnesses on both sides, and the last has de- 
 clared that the youth was active rather, in res- 
 cuing, than destroying ; surely, he should be 
 further examined.” 
 
 In the meantime the Sheikh-ul-Islam, and 
 the Moollah Bashee, both rising, went forward, 
 and kneeling at the edge of his Majesty’s mus- 
 nud, commenced an earnest conversation with 
 the Shah, which continued for many minutes. 
 His Majesty appeared greatly perplexed, turn- 
 ing from one to the other with an expression of 
 extreme uneasiness, as each alternately addressed 
 him, until after some very emphatic gestures 
 the two holy men returned to their seats. His 
 Majesty then mused for a while, bending his 
 eyes upon the ground, and, at length, with 
 great apparent reluctance, summoning the Dee- 
 wan-Beggee, informed him that the Sheikh-ul- 
 Islam had, at length, convinced him, that the 
 youth was deserving of punishment ; that his 
 desire was to have saved him ; but that justice 
 was sacred, and however averse to severity, it 
 was his duty to take care that it should be duly 
 administered. 
 
 His Majesty w T as still speaking, when a stir 
 in the passage to the royal balcony attracted 
 notice, and all but the Shah, himself, were seen 
 to draw up and make a profound obeisance to 
 
264 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 a young man of prepossessing appearance and 
 noble presence, who, on entering in haste, 
 stepped forwards to the royal seat, and having 
 prostrated himself, with his face to the ground, 
 raised himself again to his feet ; and assuming 
 an attitude of profound respect, said, 
 
 “ May God preserve your Majesty ; if per- 
 mission be granted, I have a representation to 
 make to the Presence.” 
 
 The Shah gazed at the petitioner, at first 
 with surprise, if not with anger ; but not ill- 
 pleased, as it seemed to be interrupted in a 
 very disagreeable duty, he replied in a mild and 
 encouraging voice : 
 
 “ Say on, my son, you have permission; what 
 is your desire ?” 
 
 “ Let me be your Majesty’s sacrifice! I would 
 represent that while hunting, lately, near a 
 village in the district of Gilpaigaun, your son 
 was placed in imminent danger, and nearly lost 
 his life. It was saved only by the activity and 
 energy of that young man, who stands there in 
 peril of his own life. He aided me, and tended 
 me with care, when sorely bruised and greatly 
 in need of kindness. I entreat your Majesty 
 to pardon him ; whatever his fault, be it laid 
 upon my head.’ 5 
 
 66 Indeed, and is it so ?” said the Shah, with 
 a brightening countenance. 66 Art thou sure of 
 the truth of what thou sayest, my son ?” 
 
 “ Centre of the universe ! there is no doubt 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 265 
 
 of the fact. His person is well known to your 
 servant; and I have further and unerring 
 proof, that it is himself, and no other.” 
 
 If this be so/’ said his Majesty, casting a 
 look of anxious doubt towards the two chief 
 priests, “ the state owes him a service. If he 
 has been concerned in destroying a life, he 
 has likewise been instrumental in preserving 
 one ; and surely the blood so preserved may be 
 held worth more than that which has been shed. 
 Is it not so, Meerza ?” 
 
 “ Doubtless,” replied Meerza Mahomed 
 Baukher, “ the shadow of the Most High has 
 spoken the words of truth and wisdom ; they 
 cannot be gainsaid. The blood of princes is 
 sacred, and so must be regarded by all. But 
 the holy Koran declares, nevertheless, that blood 
 must be expiated by blood ; such is the law of 
 our Blessed Prophet, honoured be his name ! 
 No doubt it is for the King to decide ; but it 
 is for us, the servants of Allah, to declare the 
 truth.” 
 
 “ Certainly,” said the Moollah Bashee, “ the 
 Sheikh-ul-Islam has declared the truth; the 
 matter admits of no doubt.” 
 
 The countenance of the Shah was again 
 overcast with perplexity ; well did he know the 
 inexorable natures of his two despotic religious 
 advisers, and distress and reproach were sin- 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 N 
 
266 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 gularly mingled with timidity in the look which 
 he cast upon them. But the young prince was 
 not to be so easily repulsed. Again casting 
 himself at his father’s feet, he exclaimed in 
 earnest tones, 
 
 “ In the name of Allah, father, listen to your 
 son ! Heed not these cold-blooded priests. Let 
 it not be said that the Protector of the universe, 
 the Refuge of the distressed, and the Shadow T of 
 the most merciful God upon earth, gave up to 
 death the man who had saved the life of his 
 son — an unworthy bud of the royal tree — but 
 in whose veins flows the sacred blood of the 
 King of kings ; and for what ? because certain 
 men, scarcely known by any here, accuse him 
 of a crime, questionable in itself, and of which 
 other witnesses have boldly declared him to be 
 innocent !” 
 
 “ Let the Shahzadeh excuse the boldness of 
 his servant/’ interrupted the Sheikh-ul-Islam 
 of Hamadan. “ The men are known, and they 
 have declared that they saw this young wretch 
 in the act of assaulting the men who have been 
 slain ; that is proof sufficient of his guilt. 
 What more remains to be said ? The breasts of 
 these poor creatures burn when they see the 
 murderers of their relatives; they look for 
 justice at the King’s hands, and God forbid 
 that they should look in vain !” 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 267 
 
 “ The Refuge of the afflicted is a fountain of 
 goodness and mercy ” struck in the Moollah 
 Bashee. “ Dear is the blood of his subjects in 
 his eyes, and painful is it to him to pronounce 
 the sentence of death, even when demanded by 
 justice. But it is the duty of the servants of 
 the throne, whose heads are as his footstool, to 
 take upon themselves the weight of such dis- 
 tress, and relieve their sovereign, by declaring 
 to him the law which governs all the faithful, 
 from the King to the Ryot. The Centre of the 
 universe must be aware that justice claims the 
 life of this young man, and duty requires that 
 the sentence should not be delayed/’ 
 
 “ La-illah-il-ullah exclaimed the Shah, in 
 great distress and utter perplexity. “ La-illah- 
 il-ullah ! may God direct his servant in this 
 strait to pronounce a wise, an equitable judg- 
 ment; he is too weak and powerless to de- 
 cide himself. God knows, my son, that wil- 
 lingly w T ould I hearken to your prayer, but the 
 law, the sacred law, how shall we dare to vio- 
 late that venerable rule of our conduct, as ex- 
 pounded by such competent authority ?” 
 
 “ Accursed be the law-breakers !” pronounced 
 the Moollah Bashee, in a solemn voice; “ so 
 says our sacred book V s 
 
 “ The man who obstructs justice upon earth 
 shall suffer condemnation in the day of judg- 
 ment intonated the Sheikh-ul-Islam, in ac- 
 
 n 2 
 
268 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 cents of great severity. The Shah trembled, and 
 those near his person might have seen the 
 large drops of perspiration bedewing his fore- 
 head. 
 
 “ It is in vain, my son/’ said his Majesty to 
 the Prince, who still knelt at his father’s feet. 
 Wouldst thou subject thy parent and thy King 
 to the pains of the law-breaker ? Wouldst thou 
 shut him out from Paradise ? No ; these Mool- 
 lahs are in the right. Let justice have its free 
 course. Let the Dewan-Beggee deliver over 
 the unfortunate wretch to the ministers of ven- 
 geance. Let blood pay for blood !” 
 
 “Amen !” echoed the priests, and the fatal 
 signal w r as made ; and Hoossein, believing all 
 was over, cast one breathless gaze around, as if 
 appealing for justice and for aid, before his 
 eyes should close for ever in death, when a 
 voice from below was heard to exclaim, “Amen ! 
 let justice be done ! be vengeance duly taken ; 
 but be it on the guilty, not upon the innocent! 
 Therefore, harm not the youth, for he is inno- 
 cent. I have a representation to lay before the 
 footstool of the throne V 9 
 
 All eyes turned upon the spot whence the 
 voice issued, and Allee Neemroo, a personage 
 well known to many present, was seen making 
 his way rapidly through the circle which closed 
 round the space beneath the Balakhaneh. The 
 Dewan-Beggee, who from the first had appeared 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 269 
 
 disposed to befriend the prisoner, retained him 
 in spite of the clamour of the blood- seekers, who 
 demanded that the sentence should be carried 
 into execution. All was wonder and excite- 
 ment, for the bold and confident, yet respect- 
 ful bearing of the horse-dealer betokened some- 
 thing more from his address than mere words. 
 
 With a profound obeisance to the Shah, he 
 solicited permission to speak as a witness for 
 the accused ; and this being granted, he began ; 
 
 “ Refuge of the destitute ! the guilt of this 
 young man rests on the declaration of two wit- 
 nesses; and these men and women, claim his 
 blood in retribution for that of relatives whom 
 they aver to have been slain by him, or through 
 his means. Now, your slave is ready to prove, 
 first, that these men and women have no claim 
 whatever to what they demand, inasmuch as 
 not one of them is related to either of the two 
 deceased Gholaums; and, secondly, that the 
 two witnesses, to whomsoever they may now 
 appertain, or did at that time belong, are in no 
 degree worthy of trust or confidence ; so that 
 their testimony cannot in justice be received 
 against the man whom they accuse. As for 
 the first, the pretended relatives of the dead — 
 lo ! even while I speak they are not longer here ; 
 the voice of truth has dispersed the gathering 
 cloud of evil and falsehood.” 
 
 It was even so. The group of complainants. 
 
270 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 even those who so clamorously demanded the 
 blood of the accused youth, had disappeared. 
 In vain did the officials of the Dewan-Beggee 
 summon them to come forward, and refute the 
 declarations of this new witness. Nowhere 
 could they be found \ while from the crowd 
 there arose a murmur of astonishment and va- 
 rious exclamations, as “ La-illah-ul-allah ! Een 
 cheezee ghareeb ust ; Ajaib ! Een die nakl , ust” 
 and so forth. 
 
 “ And now/* continued Allee, u if a poor 
 fakeer like me might, without presumption, ad- 
 dress himself to so holy and mighty a person- 
 age as the Sheikh- ul- Islam Meerza Jemal-u- 
 Deen, I would solicit him to declare whether he 
 considers these men, his former servants, to be 
 still, as he would have us believe, worthy of 
 credit ; whether their characters may not have 
 undergone some change, since they quitted his 
 respectable service ; and whether it is not pro- 
 bable that they, like the false relatives, who 
 vanished when they saw a chance of detection, 
 may have some secret motive for seeking the 
 destruction of this young man ; and con- 
 scious of being themselves culprits in the 
 affair at the village, may they not be desirous 
 of removing so important a witness of their 
 guilt ? Will the Meerza be pleased to reply ?’* 
 
 The Shah, again perplexed, cast an inquiring 
 look at Meerza Jemal-u-Deen. That personage. 
 
THE BUCHT1 ARE E ADVENTURER. 2JI 
 
 had he been closely observed, might have been 
 seen to betray no slight discomposure on hear- 
 ing the voice of Allee Neemroo, and finding 
 him make his appearance on the stage. The 
 two Moollahs made more than one effort to 
 prevent attention being paid to his words ; and 
 ’when foiled in this, attempted to interrupt him 
 at every sentence. But the manner, as well as 
 the matter of Allee’s speech, was such as 
 forced attention ; and the Shah felt too much 
 interested and excited by the communication to 
 suffer himself to be distracted from it by the 
 buzz from the knot of Moollahs about him ; nor 
 was it until the direct appeal to Mirza-Jemal- 
 u-Deen had been made* that his Majesty turned 
 his regards upon that person. 
 
 But the Meerza’s decision and firmness 
 seemed to have abandoned him. “ Refuge of 
 the destitute, ” said he, in a lowered tone, 
 “ what statement can I make to such an appeal? 
 No doubt some time has elapsed since the men 
 were in my service; they may not be now what 
 they were ; but inquiry shall be made, and, if 
 if it please the Centre of the universe, to- 
 morrow/’ 
 
 “ Ay, to-morrow or next day ; be it so, be 
 it so,” hastily replied his Majesty, gladly catch- 
 ing at even the temporary respite from a scene 
 which had greatly embarrassed him ; and, al- 
 lowing not a moment for remonstrance, he di- 
 
2 72 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 rected the witness to he informed, that his 
 proofs against those on the other side should be 
 called for at a future time : then, as if fearful of 
 some further cause of delay, in spite of the 
 groans and murmurs of the priests, he rose 
 up, and, dismissing the assembly, retired 
 from the balakhaneh. In the meantime Allee 
 Neemroo approached the prisoner, and, be- 
 fore he could be led away by the furoshes, or 
 at all events unopposed by them, found means 
 to whisper a word or two of encouragement, 
 which, coupled with his almost miraculous 
 preservation, tended greatly to his comfort and 
 confidence, as he re-entered his cell of con- 
 finement. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 2/3 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE CATASTROTHE. 
 
 Deep was the sleep of Hoossein, after the 
 restless agitation of so many painful hours 
 had subsided into that lassitude of mind and 
 bodv which succeeds sustained excitement. 
 How long his slumber had continued he knew 
 not, but he was awakened by the pressure of 
 a hand upon his arm, and starting up and 
 gazing, as if still in a dream, his eye met that of 
 the horse-dealer, who was leaning over him, 
 and the clasp of whose hand it was that had 
 broken his repose. Silence was enjoined by a 
 mute gesture, and Hoossein, thus debarred 
 from the privilege of speech, cast his eyes about 
 in search of that information which he could 
 not ^isk for. He saw that four persons had 
 entered his cell, but how, and who they were, 
 he could not discover, until the piercing eyes 
 and impenetrable physiognomy of Noor Shah, 
 peering forth from under a head dress, worn for 
 disguise, convinced him, that unless his 
 faculties were still under the influence of sleep, 
 
 N 3 
 
274 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 lie was in the hands of his old friends, the 
 dervishes. 
 
 In the meantime, silently but swiftly did Allee 
 and his people remove the bonds which still 
 restrained the young man’s arms ; and throwing 
 an old Arab cloak over his shoulders, and re- 
 placing the turban which he wore, by a sorry 
 piece of checquered stuff, the horse-dealer him- 
 self placed in his hands a sword and a dagger 
 for the waist. Thus accoutred was he led forth, 
 first through the outer cell, and then past 
 the quarters of the guard, where not a challenge 
 was given and no symptom of vigilance ap- 
 peared, to a postern or wicket in the palace 
 wall. Here, for a moment, they halted ; a low 
 tap on the door w T as responded to by its 
 opening, as if spontaneously. Not a soul was 
 seen, and the party in another instant were 
 beyond the formidable walls. 
 
 Rapidly passing along the open space at 
 their foot, they turned down a lane which led 
 into the city, and pursued their course 
 along the deserted streets and empty ba- 
 zaars; nor was it until they had reached 
 some considerable distance, that Allee, in a 
 low impressive tone, said, 
 
 “ You are now, praise be to God ! secure 
 from one great danger, but the evil one is 
 abroad, and there may still be work to do ; so 
 be prepared to use the arms you have received. 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 2?5 
 
 Strike all who may oppose us, and spare not, 
 Bismillah !” 
 
 Hoossein now observed that Allee was armed 
 with a mace, ending in an iron spike, such as 
 he had seen frequently carried by the dervishes. 
 
 On went the five, silently and rapidly tra- 
 versing various quarters of the city, but tending 
 always towards the western gates, till turning 
 into an opening space where several streets 
 met, a sound of the trampling of horses was 
 heard, and a party of armed cavaliers, attended 
 by several men on foot, some of whom bore 
 torches, came pouring on from one of the 
 avenues. 
 
 The attention of Allee was roused by the 
 first uncertain sound. Listening for a moment 
 he gave an order to one of his dervishes, who 
 immediately drew a horn from beneath his 
 cloak. In another instant the sound became 
 more distinct. 
 
 Sound V 9 said he, and the horn being forth- 
 with winded gave utterance to certain of those 
 uncouth howls, which are the well-known 
 gathering notes of dervishes. 
 
 “ Be ready, they are upon us/* said Allee 
 to Hoossein, who immediately drew his sword, 
 while the other grasped his mace with a reso- 
 lute hand, and the remaining three fakeers 
 prepared themselves also to resist the coming 
 attack. Nor did it tarry long, for no sooner 
 had the foremost of the horsemen perceived 
 
ALLEE NEEMROO. 
 
 27 6 
 
 the fugitives, than in a voice, which Hoossein 
 immedately recognised as that of the Sheikh- 
 ul-Islam, of Hamadan, he exclaimed, 
 
 66 There they are, men ; in the name of 
 Allah, seize and slay them ! v and seconding his 
 words by actions, he pushed full speed against 
 the fakeers, who on their part, awaited the 
 onset without flinching. 
 
 The night, though clear above, afforded too 
 little light to display the inequalities of the 
 ground; and the torches borne by the Sheikh’s 
 people lent but an uncertain glare ; so that in 
 his blind eagerness to ride down the runaways, 
 the horse of the Sheikh -ul-Islam himself stum- 
 bled just within reach of the mace of Allee, 
 which struck it on the head before it could re- 
 cover its footing, and brought man and horse 
 to the earth. Others came on ; and the 
 sound of the heavy blows from the weapons of 
 the fakeers bore witness to the resolution with 
 which they stood their ground, and repelled 
 their assailants ; who, on their side, struggled 
 hard to close. 
 
 “ Down with them both ! Down with the 
 accursed horse-dealer and his minion ! 5 ’ shouted 
 the Sheikh, extricating himself from his fallen 
 horse, while two of his people pressing forward, 
 struck furiously at Hoossein. The youth made 
 a blow at the foremost, which, doubtless, would 
 have brought him to the ground, had not his 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 277 
 
 sword shivered to the hilt against his adversary’s 
 weapon, leaving him defenceless. Allee, whose 
 eye was more employed in watching his rescued 
 charge than in guarding himself, even in the 
 heat of the combat, seemed intuitively aware of 
 the accident, and with a rapid whirl of his mace 
 beat down the man, whose sword was just 
 descending on the young man’s head. The 
 other turned to face his new antagonist, while 
 at the same moment the Sheikh himself having 
 regained his footing sprung, dagger in hand, 
 upon Allee. 
 
 An ejaculation, half shout, half groan, which 
 escaped the horse-dealer thus doubly assailed, 
 caught the ear of Hoossein, who, furious alike 
 at the sight of his mortal foe, and the danger of 
 his friend, drew his khunjer, and closing with 
 the Sheikh, who, on his part, appeared regard- 
 less of aught but the destruction of his enemy, 
 plunged it deep in his body. With a fierce 
 execration, the Sheikh, losing hold of Allee, 
 turned to revenge the wound he had received, by 
 a violent, but random and easily parried, stroke. 
 Hoossein returned the blow with surer hand, 
 and, as his inveterate oppressor lay gasping at his 
 feet in the pangs of death, raised his streaming 
 dagger and exclaimed, “Hadjee! mother! 
 friends ! beloved ones ! Praise be to Allah, 
 ye are at length avenged !” 
 
 So wholly had every faculty been absorbed 
 
273 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 in this fierce struggle, that Hoossein did not 
 observe the increase of numbers on the scene, 
 nor discover that the fight was at an end, until 
 raising his eyes from the dying wretch before 
 him, he cast around a look for his friend. Allee 
 was near him leaning on diis mace; his two 
 principal assailants lay stretched beside their 
 master, while the remainder of their party was 
 making a hasty retreat before a number of 
 armed fakeers and dervishes; who, hovering 
 near in case of need, had obeyed the summons 
 of their comrade’s horn. Scarcely had he time 
 to comprehend what was passing, when his own 
 knees were clasped, and a well-known voice 
 broke forth in a torrent of mingled affection 
 and reproach. It was Caussim, from whom he 
 had thus again been forcibly separated, and 
 who now, in accents, scarcely intelligible from 
 emotion, uttered upbraidings and lamentations 
 in the same breath, and who again swore, 
 Wullah ! Billah ! that neither priest nor der- 
 vish, khan nor vizier, no, nor all the power of 
 man, should ever again separate him, while 
 alive, from his side. 
 
 “ Inshallah ! it will not again, be required my 
 friend, ” said Allee Neemroo, who, after issuing 
 some orders to his people, now turned to 
 Hoossein and his foster brother; “with that 
 black-hearted and treacherous villain who lies 
 before you there, terminate, please God, the 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 2*J9 
 
 dangers and misfortunes of your master. 
 Wretch and fool! did I not tell thee that in 
 seeking to betray me, thou wouldst but find thy 
 own destruction. Had the blow failed now, it 
 would not have beenlong deferred; and now thou 
 liest there, a poisonous snake, stifled in its own 
 venom ! ” The miserable man gnashed his 
 teeth as he lay, impotent, upon the ground, as 
 if he felt the bitter sting which his adversary’s 
 triumph had implanted in his soul. 
 
 “But let us not delay/' continued Allee; 
 “ bring the horses, and hark, make sure of this 
 fiend ; we have many fursucks yet to ride 
 ere dawn.’* Four horses were now led forward, 
 one of which was presented to Hoossein. He ob- 
 served that Allee busiedhimself for a whileabout 
 his garments, and wound a long sash about his 
 body ; but believing this to be only a prepara- 
 tive for a long and fatiguing ride, he thought 
 nothing of it, and having mounted, away they 
 went. The gateway w r as passed, and after 
 rapidly treading the vast tract of orchard and 
 garden ground that lay beyond the city, by a 
 succession of lanes and byw T ays, they reached 
 the open country, and took a south-west course 
 towards the Koh-i-Zurd. 
 
 By dawn of day they had already ridden far, 
 and yet there w 7 as no sign of halting, nor any 
 appearance of a spot, wdiere refreshment of any 
 sort could be procured had they desired any. 
 
280 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 But the cold air of night, which rendered 
 rapid movement rather agreeable than other- 
 wise, prevented their feeling that exhaustion 
 which milder weather might have produced, 
 and they held on their course unwearied. As 
 daylight increased, however, Hoossein remarked 
 with alarm, that part of the horse-dealer’s 
 clothes were dyed with blood; and though he 
 trusted that it belonged to others rather than 
 to himself, he could not repress a thrill of ap- 
 prehension, as he expressed his hope that his 
 friend had received no injury. 
 
 The pale countenance of the horse-dealer 
 contradicted his reply, as, smiling faintly, he 
 assured the youth that the scratch was nothing. 
 But when Hoossein, now seriously alarmed, 
 entreated him to halt and have his wound ex- 
 amined, he replied that it was both useless and 
 dangerous to lose time where they were. 
 “ Here nothing can be done. In two hours 
 more w r e shall reach our destination ; you will 
 be safe, and I can then attend to myself ; in 
 the mean time let us press forward.’’ 
 
 They did so; and broad daylight found them 
 in a pastoral country, in a valley shut in with 
 mountains, among which opened a narrower 
 and more secluded glen, near the entrance to 
 which they had arrived. Up this they turned, 
 and made their way until the rocky hills, that 
 bounded it, retreated somewhat from each other, 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 281 
 
 so as to form a basin of considerable extent. 
 On the sunny side of this hollow, beneath a 
 protecting rock, lay cradled a pleasant village, 
 overlooking its cultivation and orchard grounds, 
 which were irrigated by a clear stream that 
 rushed from the mountain behind. It was a 
 peaceful and a cheering scene ; and the heart 
 of Hoossein, long wrung by anxiety and doubt, 
 felt a welcome repose in looking upon it. This, 
 it appeared, was their halting place ; for the 
 party turned the heads of their willing horses 
 up the track that led to it. 
 
 Winding through a maze of inclosures and 
 dwellings, they rode on to a habitation, which 
 was easily recognised as that of the village 
 chief, for it was inclosed in a small court, by a 
 wall with towers at each angle, and the gateway 
 by which entrance was obtained could be closed 
 against intruders. Through this entrance they 
 passed, and halted at the door of the public 
 apartment, where they were received by the 
 owner in person, a hale and kindly-looking old 
 man, who helped them, himself, to dismount. 
 But he started when he saw the condition of 
 the horse-dealer, who, pale and exhausted, and 
 his apparel saturated with blood, was unable to 
 alight without assistance. 
 
 “ Let it pass just now f replied he to his 
 inquiring host. “ Here is your principal guest. 
 Is all right?’ 
 
282 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 “ All is right, thanks be to Allah/’ replied 
 the man, “ if you are safe, but — 
 
 “ Fear not for me,” replied Allee, u but take 
 him in at once. Nay, Hoossein, leave me for a 
 moment, I am with good and skilful friends ; 
 do at present as I desire, as I entreat ! follow 
 that good man, you will return to me when you 
 please.” 
 
 There was something at once so earnest and 
 significantin the manner of his friend as he spoke 
 thus, that Hoossein, in spite of his anxiety, could 
 not refuse obedience to his request; but he 
 resolved, be the cause of this request what it 
 might, not to absent himself long ; for he had 
 strong though secret fear as to the condition of 
 his friend. In the mean time, he followed his 
 host through a passage to a more retired quar- 
 ter of the house, which obviously contained the 
 female apartments. Stopping here, behind a 
 curtained door, he spoke a few' words which 
 were answered from within. u Enter, ” said he, 
 a my son ; you are expected/’ Hoossein agitated 
 he scarce knew why, obeyed with mingled curio- 
 sity and apprehension. Slowly he raised the 
 curtain, and saw w T ithin a female form leaning 
 against the wall ; his heart beat quick as he 
 timidly advanced towards her. A shriek burst 
 from his lips, and Ausieh, his own Ausieh was 
 in his arms ! 
 
 Was it strange that the rapturous emotions 
 
THE RUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 283 
 
 of a meeting like this, should drive from Hoos- 
 sein’s memory for a while, even the thoughts of 
 that friend to whose zealous affection he owed 
 not only this blissful re-union, but even his life 
 itself. Yet not long could even the spell of his 
 mistress’s presence repress his feelings of grati- 
 tude and apprehension! Shortly mentioning 
 his deep obligations to Allee, and his fears for 
 that indefatigable friend, he left her to seek him. 
 
 Allee, who by this time had been removed 
 into a more private and comfortable apartment, 
 was lying exhausted on his couch. The pale- 
 ness, which could be traced even through the 
 swarthy hue of his weather-beaten countenance, 
 was rendered more striking by a single spot of 
 crimson that just began to show itself on either 
 cheek; — harbinger of the fever which fatigue 
 had produced in his veins. To Hoossein’s ear- 
 nest inquiries he merely replied, that as to his 
 wound little could yet be said. A dressing had 
 been applied, and until its effects should be seen, 
 the issue must remain in doubt. 
 
 “ Whatever be the result, my dear friend,” 
 said he, “ I have the comfort of having saved 
 your life, when no other mortal could have done 
 so ; and of seeing the evil genius of your 
 existence removed for ever from your path. 
 But now leave me to repose, I am exhausted 
 and require rest. La-illah-il-ullah ! that this 
 should have come upon me from his hand ! But 
 
284 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO 
 
 so was it written, and otherwise it could not 
 be.” 
 
 He turned himself away and slept, or seemed 
 to sleep : and Hoossein, his heart wrung with 
 apprehension and sorrow, sought comfort in the 
 presence of Ausieh. 
 
 Eager and anxious, it may be believed, were 
 her inquiries regarding her former home and 
 those, who in that terrible night had been scat- 
 tered abroad or made captives like herself ; and 
 not less earnest were the questions of Hoossein 
 respecting her own adventures, and the chances 
 by which she had been preserved from the 
 dangers that appeared to threaten her on every 
 side. But Ausieh had little to tell. From her 
 companion Fatmeh, at Kermanshah, he had in 
 few words learned most of what had befallen 
 the women after their capture ; and it clearly 
 appeared that Roostum Beg, distrusting the 
 Sheikh -ul-Islam ? s goodfaith, had withheld from 
 him the Hadjee’s grand-daughter, until bis terms 
 should be complied with ; and hoping sooner or 
 later to make his profit of her, he had retained 
 her in his own stronghold, while the rest were 
 sent to Kermanshah for sale. 
 
 But during his attempts at negociation, both 
 at Hamadan and Kermanshah, he discovered 
 that the hue and cry raised in consequence of his 
 wholesale dealings at the latter place, was likely 
 to prevent his reaping any benefit from his ill- 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 285 
 
 gottenbooty ; while, on the other hand, the Wali 
 of Louristan threatened to take cognizance of his 
 daring offences against liberty and property in 
 that vicinity. These considerations rendered 
 the robber more open to certain overtures that 
 were made to him for the restoration of the 
 Ameenabad captives; and in the meantime, 
 Ausieh was kept in safe and honourable cus- 
 tody under the charge of his own women. 
 
 u And thus,’* said she, “ I remained for se- 
 veral w r eeks, not unkindly treated, though sad 
 and wretched at heart. Ah Hoossein ! you 
 have suffered dreadfully ; I see it. I see it in 
 your thin and haggard features, and your care- 
 worn look. But I, Hoossein ! Oh ! Allah 
 alone knows w T hat I have endured, believing all 
 my family slain, with my poor old grandfather ! 
 also, yourself a prisoner or dead, perhaps ; 
 and myself, a miserable captive, reserved for 
 some horrid fate. Surely, surely it was the mercy 
 of Allah that my brain became confused, and my 
 senses torpid, so that I scarce knew, or felt, 
 what was passing ! I should have gone mad, 
 and died else ! Oh, what a dreadful time ! Yet, 
 on looking back to it, all is dark; a horrid whirl 
 of black and fearful thoughts. 
 
 66 At length I was told to prepare for a jour- 
 ney ; I was to be taken home ! My heart leapt 
 at the thought ; but so confused was my head, 
 that I scarce comprehended what was said. 
 
286 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO 
 
 Yet, when they took me out from the dull, 
 close chamber which had been my prison, and 
 I felt the free and blessed air blowing 
 around me, as I sat on the beast I was to ride, 
 just as it used to do upon our own mountains, 
 a weight seemed to be lifted from my breast. 
 I breathed more freely, and a flood of tears 
 rushed to my eyes. Oh ! what a relief were 
 those tears, Hoossein ! It was as if the veil 
 that hung over my faculties had been removed, 
 and I could once more think, and remember, 
 and feel! Then was it that the recollections 
 of all that had happened came fresh and keenly 
 on my soul, and I wept more bitterly than ever. 
 Yet, bitter as they were, those tears did 
 me good, and seemed to soothe the pain of 
 my heart ; then the promise made to me that 
 I was going home, oh, how it made me long, 
 and yet tremble ! But from that hour I re- 
 covered something of my former health and 
 strength. 
 
 “ On the fourth day we reached this place, 
 where they told me I must wait until some of 
 my friends should arrive to receive me. Friends ! 
 the word made my heart leap within me ; but 
 w T ho could these friends be ! How busily did 
 I speculate on this question ! The delay, it is 
 true, alarmed me ; but then I was so kindly 
 treated ; the people were so good, and tried so 
 much to re-assure me, that I could not believe 
 
THE BUCHTI AREE ADVENTURER. 287 
 
 any harm was intended me. Time, however, 
 passed on, my impatience increased every 
 hour. Ah ! could I have guessed how all this 
 anxiety was to terminate ; I fear it would not 
 have been diminished, though, oh heaven ! how 
 much of wretchedness should I have been 
 saved ! But we have met once more, Hoos- 
 sein ! you have been spared to me, dearest, and 
 all besides can be borne !” 
 
 After a restless and distressing night, 
 Allee Neemroo became evidently worse. His 
 fever ran high, his wound was painful and in- 
 flamed, and at times the wildness of his looks 
 and words betrayed delirium. Hoossein, equally 
 grieved and alarmed, left not his couch for a 
 moment, but watched his slightest movement, 
 seeking to anticipate every want, and ever 
 ready with the cool sherbet to slake the thirst 
 which seemed to scorch up the sufferer’s 
 vitals. The day thus passed in the most pain- 
 ful suspense ; nor did the night bring much 
 relief ; for though the fever might seem occa- 
 sionally to abate, the pain and irritation con- 
 tinued extreme, and Hoossein saw with anguish 
 that the strength of his frame would be un- 
 equal long to hold out against the violence of 
 his sufferings. Yet, in spite of physical suf- 
 fering, it was obvious that the mind of Allee 
 remained firm and unshaken. Even the ravings 
 of delirium gave proof that his thoughts were 
 
288 
 
 all.ee neemroo 
 
 generous and unselfish, and that the courage 
 and energy, which marked his character, con- 
 tinued unquelled by the disease which preyed 
 upon his frame. His conversation was often ad- 
 dressed to individuals of the fraternity, with 
 whom, of late, it appeared he was still so closely 
 united; and many a mystic apothegm did he 
 mutter, and many a distich from the works 
 of the Sooffee poets. 
 
 It was past the hour of afternoon prayers, 
 when two mounted travellers arrived at the 
 village. One of them proved to be Noor Shah; 
 the other was of striking appearance, but a 
 stranger to Hoossein. He was received by the 
 Zabit with profound respect, and by him im- 
 mediately conducted to the sick man’s room. 
 No sooner had he cast a glance upon his coun- 
 tenance, than a half-repressed exclamation of 
 mingled distress and surprise escaped his lips, 
 and he shook his head, as, sitting down by the 
 couch, he took the sick man’s hand in his own, 
 felt his skin, examined his eyes, and continued 
 gazing on his face. After a few minutes, he 
 called for a cup with some water and other in- 
 gredients, which being brought, he took from a 
 small box certain drugs, and, compounding them 
 with the rest, formed a draught, which he pro- 
 ceeded to administer to the patient. 
 
 Here, however, Hoossein thought fit to in- 
 terfere, as he knew not who this personage 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 289 
 
 was and dreaded some secret mischief to 
 his friend. Calling their host, he stated his 
 doubts, and inquired what he knew about the 
 person, who had thus volunteered his assistance, 
 and whether he believed him to be qualified for 
 the task. 
 
 “ Be contented, and fear nothing/’ replied 
 the Zabit. “ In this person you may repose 
 implicit confidence/ 5 
 
 But Hoossein still hesitated ; upon which 
 the stranger, smiling, took forth from a secret 
 pocket a ring, which he held towards Hoossein. 
 
 “ You are right, young man/ 5 said he ; “ you 
 are faithful and true to your friend ; but be at 
 ease, he is mine also ; and let this token con- 
 vince you, that neither he nor yourself have 
 aught to dread from me. Know you this 
 ring?’ 5 
 
 Hoossein gazed on the signet, which, to his 
 infinite surprise, he discovered to be the 
 one he had himself received from the Prince, 
 and delivered, when confined in Ispahan, to the 
 dervish sent by Allee to receive it. 
 
 “ Allah-il-ullah ! is it possible ?’ 5 exclaimed 
 he, rising with respect. “ Then who is it I 
 see ? 55 
 
 “ You see a friend, young man ; let that suf- 
 fice at present; in the meantime, we must mi- 
 nister to our suffering brother. 5 ’ 
 
 Allee, who, though still affected by delirium, 
 
 VOL. III. O 
 
290 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 appeared to recognise the person of the stran- 
 ger, received and took the draught without 
 difficulty ; and such was its soothing virtue, 
 that in less than a quarter of an hour the dis- 
 tressing restlessness appeared gradually to 
 abate, and in double that space of time not only 
 was he perfectly tranquil, but disposed, as it 
 seemed, to drop into a sleep. When the stran- 
 ger observed this, he said, 
 
 “ Now let us leave him ; the good effect of 
 this medicine depends upon perfect quiet. We 
 must retire, and take care that he shall not be 
 disturbed.” 
 
 With these words he rose, and took the way 
 to another apartment, with a readiness which 
 proved him a frequent visitor at the place ; and 
 Hoossein followed him at once without fur- 
 ther question. 
 
 “ And now, my young friend,” said the 
 stranger, after they had seated themselves, 
 “ your question shall be answered. Unneces- 
 sary mystery is foreign to my nature, and you 
 shall know who I am. In me, behold that 
 Meerza Taher, to whose good offices you have 
 a double claim ; first, from the devoted attach- 
 ment borne to you by our suffering friend; and, 
 secondly, from the duty and willing obedience I 
 owe to him who was the owner of that ring, and 
 who entrusted it to thee as a token for me.” 
 
 Hoossein attempted to express his deep sense 
 of obligation, but the Meerza stopped him. 
 
THE BUCHTXAREE ADVENTURER. 291 
 
 “ I tell you again that to me you owe no- 
 thing. I lent my aid to serve you at the desire 
 of others ; but now that I have seen thee, youth, 
 I rejoice, for thy own sake, that it has been 
 effectual, however I may lament the price thy 
 safety is like to cost.” 
 
 “ What price, in the name of Allah !” in- 
 quired Hoossein, with ready apprehension. 
 
 “ Seest thou not the condition of thy friend ? 
 No blame to thee; but was it not in rescuing 
 thee that he came by this wound ?” 
 
 “ Subhan ullah ! and you think him in dan- 
 ger ?*’ asked Hoossein, with increased alarm. 
 “ For the holy prophet’s sake, tell me the 
 truth.” 
 
 “ From me, my young friend,” said the 
 Meerza, thou shalt hear nought but truth, 
 be the consequences what they may. Our 
 friend, I grieve to say so, is in serious 
 danger. Whether the symptoms which I dread 
 have been produced by the effect of a poisoned 
 weapon, or by fatigue and exertion fretting a 
 wound, which in itself is no trifle, as yet cannot 
 be determined. From the character of him 
 who inflicted it, there is cause to fear the first. 
 When he awakes from the sleep which that 
 draught is now producing, the truth may be 
 known ; till then, we must hope in patience ; 
 the issue is in the hands of Allah.” 
 
 “ Ai wahi ! ai wahi !” exclaimed Hoossein, 
 
 o 2 
 
292 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 u these are indeed heavy tidings. Allah ! Al- 
 lah ! would that he had left me to my fate ! 
 What were my life to his ? Oh, Allee, what a 
 friend hast thou been to me ; how shall I sur- 
 vive thee ?” 
 
 “ My son, be consoled. Who can alter what 
 Providence has decreed ? The fate of thy friend 
 was written in the book of destiny. Like others 
 of the race of Adam, he must fulfil his lot, and 
 we must bow to the Almighty will. Yet thou 
 hast said the truth ; to thee he has been a true 
 and zealous friend.” 
 
 “ Ay, well may I say so !” rejoined Hoos- 
 sein, mournfully ; “ and Allah knows how bit- 
 terly I shall feel his loss. Yet, oh God ! must 
 it then be so? Must we indeed have to mourn 
 him ! Ai Wahi ! Ai Wahi ! dear, dear friend ! 
 alas ! how did I merit so much devoted attach- 
 ment ? By your ow r n august head, Meerza, it 
 has often struck me with wonder, that one, with 
 so few pretentions to notice, should have ex- 
 cited such an interest in a heart like that of Al- 
 lee, who, knowing the world so well, must have 
 seen a thousand more deserving of his regard 
 than I am ! It is true, that, even the very first 
 time I saw Allee Neemroo, I was sensible of a 
 corresponding inclination towards him, which 
 increased every time I met him ; not even 
 during the longest interval that separated us, 
 did that feeling ever diminish ; nor did I cease 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 293 
 
 to long for his society. But all this is plain ; 
 for, young and thoughtless as I was, his cha- 
 racter interested me, and I loved his kindness 
 and worth; yet that he should entertain so 
 remarkable an attachment to me, Wullah ! Bil- 
 lah ! I cannot account for it.” 
 
 Meerza Taher smiled, “ I wonder not, my 
 son, at your perplexity/' said he, “ and yet the 
 explanation is simple ; you feel it in your own 
 breast, though unconscious of its meaning. 
 Much as you have been thrown of late among 
 that order, in whom the pure spirit, of love and 
 devoted friendship pre-eminently dwells, you 
 know little of its power or workings; nor would 
 it be possible in few words to explain so large 
 a subject. Learn, however, that by the will of 
 the beneficent Creator, a principle of sympa- 
 thetic attraction pervades his whole works, 
 producing both in animate and inanimate crea- 
 tures the combinations necessary to their exis- 
 tence and reproduction; disposing alike kin- 
 dred mind and homogeneous matter to mingle 
 and unite together according to their inherent 
 affinities, yea, to search for each other among 
 the mass of uncongenial beings, with an eager- 
 ness that cannot rest until the desired union is 
 accomplished. When minds thus formed for 
 each other chance to meet, this principle of 
 sympathy begins immediately to operate, and 
 they mingle in feeling as two drops of pure 
 
294 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 water mutually attract other and melt into one. 
 And though, in the human race, this sym- 
 pathy, by a wise provision of the Almighty, is 
 most widely developed, and acts most power- 
 fully in individuals of opposite sexes, it does 
 not the less evince itself in unions yet more 
 pure, and not less binding ; unions, by the 
 world termed friendships, but which, all unsul- 
 lied as they are by the grosser impulses of pas- 
 sion, and void of the selfishness of our nature, 
 become refined and exalted to a degree that 
 assimilates them to the character of heavenly 
 love itself. 
 
 “ Among beings wholly devoted to this world 
 and its lusts, a sentiment so pure and heavenly 
 can have no existence. But in proportion as a 
 man withdraws from the debasing thraldom of 
 worldly pursuits, and fixes his thoughts and 
 affections on Heaven and the Creator, his per- 
 ceptions of the divine being, who is love , and 
 of the beauty of creation, which is pervaded by 
 the spirit of that perfect love, become more 
 clear and impressive ; and he will learn to ex- 
 tend to that creation a portion of the rapturous 
 feeling of which the Creator is the first object. 
 But as in unions of the sexes, so also in those 
 formed by that purer sentiment of which I 
 speak, the law of sympathy impels us to a selec- 
 tion of the objects on which its disinterested 
 love may be fitly lavished. 
 
THE BUCHTI AREE ADVENTURER. 295 
 
 “ Among the sect, to which our friend be- 
 longed, this sentiment has been cultivated with 
 peculiar ardour, indeed to an extent which has 
 subjected them to imputations of caprice and 
 affectation in the selection of objects for these 
 attachments. But the charge is groundless ; 
 for the very law which forms them precludes 
 the exercise of volition. They are spontaneous, 
 involuntary, beyond the control of those in 
 whom they arise; and are, in fact, as frequently 
 excited by age as by youth, by deformity as by 
 beauty, and by those of either sex indifferently. 
 But they are in all cases pure and passionless, 
 though characterized by a devotion which 
 pants to make every sacrifice, even that of life 
 itself, for the beloved object. 
 
 “Such, my young friend, is the nature, and 
 such the origin of Allee’s attachment to you ; 
 and were you as indifferent to the world as he 
 is, and like him devoted' to the contemplation 
 of divine love and the glories of the one all 
 pervading essence, you would doubtless be in- 
 spired with as perfect a devotion towards Allee, 
 as he has evinced for you— the principle of 
 sympathetic love is perfect in you both. 
 
 “ Wonderful!” exclaimed Hoossein, who had 
 hung upon the Meerza’s words while he spoke, 
 “ you have unfolded to me marvellous truths, 
 for truths I feel them to be, my own heart tells 
 me so ; and yet how different — !” 
 
296 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 He stopped, for he thought of the passion^ 
 ate love he bore to Ausieh, and practically felt 
 the difference between it and the pure imma- 
 culate sentiment described by the Meerza. Yet 
 he felt, that in one respect they differed not ; 
 for would he not willingly have sacrificed even 
 life itself for her ? 
 
 “ Alas, father,” continued he, a little can I 
 boast of the Sooffee’s purity, little desire do 1 
 experience for quitting the world or renouncing 
 its cares or its pleasures.” 
 
 “ I know it well, my son ; nor is there any 
 cause why you should do so : you are young, 
 and still have hopes and ties — nay, blush not, 
 they are innocent, yea, worthy of praise ; but 
 they bind you to the world, and in it and for 
 it you must live while they endure. Yet forget 
 not what you now have heard ; and rest assured 
 that at the last, he who thinks most of Heaven 
 and least of earth will have the happiest end; and 
 that the fewer your worldly ties, and the more 
 your thoughts are devoted to your Creator, the 
 more peaceful and tranquil will be your sojourn 
 on earth, the less the pang of quitting it. But 
 enough of this; your life is but beginning; and 
 whether it shall prove blameless and happy, 
 or turbulent and anxious, perhaps sinful and 
 miserable, will depend mainly on yourself. 
 
 u You have borne your trials bravely hither- 
 to ; and your misfortunes, please God, are past 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 297 
 
 for a season ; should they produce a right effect 
 upon your heart, and teach you the value of 
 calm and peaceful enjoyment, your career may 
 be useful and happy. But should either the 
 voice of ambition, or a wild lust of adventure 
 lure you again from the right way, or induce 
 you to aspire to rank or power, beware of their 
 snares, for they will lead you by a thorny path, 
 to a desolate home and a broken heart, to 
 poverty, misery, and dishonour.” 
 
 “ By your own soul, father !” exclaimed 
 Hoossein, “you describe my very thoughts. 
 I am sick of adventure, and the wickedness of 
 the great, disgusts me. I pine for tranquillity 
 and peace. Alas ! once I could say that these 
 were mine ! I had a home, a sweet and plea- 
 sant spot, where there were friends to welcome 
 my return from wandering, and the smile of 
 affection to cheer my soul when weary or dis- 
 tressed. But, all is now gone ; that home is 
 already desolate, its roofless walls are red with 
 the blood of its murdered inmates, and nothing 
 remains of all that was once so sweet and 
 peaceful, but heaps of dust and ashes, the 
 monuments of violence and murder !” 
 
 “ In that painful reverse, my son, behold the 
 confirmation of my words. In this sublunary 
 world, what spot is there exempt from misery 
 and death ? How then, should even your 
 happy village the u Abode of Peace” itself, be 
 
 o 3 
 
298 
 
 ALLEE NEEMR00, 
 
 an exception to the common lot ? Yet 
 after all, God is merciful ! and his goodness 
 often deigns to heal the wounds which his wis- 
 dom sees fit to inflict. With you, my son, and 
 with your people he hath dealt mercifully now. 
 When you re-visit that beloved home, which 
 Inshallah, you shall speedily do, you shall find 
 it no longer desolate, and though the dead return 
 no more, you will be welcomed by many a 
 well known face, on your return to the pleasant 
 village of Ameenabad.’’ 
 
 66 How, father, what is your meaning? for 
 Allah’s sake explain/’ 
 
 4 - I mean, my son, that since you left that 
 home, which, as you say, was rendered deso- 
 late and dreary enough to break the heart of 
 its few remaining children, a powerful agency 
 has been at work to re-assemble its scattered 
 flock, and restore them to their own abodes ; 
 and so successful have these efforts been, that 
 saving those who are numbered with the dead, 
 few of their places are now empty. By the 
 blessing of Allah, you will find the village nearly 
 restored to its former state, and many a friend 
 to greet you there/’ 
 
 “ And to what blessed agency are these 
 benefits due ?’ ; asked Hoossein. “ But need I 
 inquire ?” continued he, clasping his hands, 
 with emotion, u does not my heart tell me 
 that all is from him, who has so often saved 
 
THE BUCI1TIAREE ADVENTURER. 299 
 
 my life itself. Oh, may God restore him to 
 us V 9 
 
 “ You have said well, your friend has been 
 indeed, the first and principal mover in all that 
 has been done to remedy the evil committed 
 by that wicked and miserable wretch, who has 
 been taken in his own snare. Early aware of 
 what had happened at Ameenabad, and aware 
 too of all your interests there, Allee had set 
 his own agents in motion long before you 
 found him at Hamad&n. To his efforts, and 
 influence with others, was it owing that the 
 plundering Buchtiaree was baffled in his at- 
 tempts to dispose of his captives at Kerman- 
 shah; at which place you also experienced 
 something of their power. And had your im- 
 patience been restrained, had you but waited 
 the ripeness of events, it is probable that you 
 would have avoided great dangers and subse- 
 quent misfortunes. Notwithstanding your im- 
 prudence, however, the spoilers found it more 
 for their interest to accept a small ransom, 
 and so get rid of their captives, than run the 
 risk of loosing all, and incurring heavy chas- 
 tisement to boot. Thus, all captives within 
 reach have been liberated and sent back to 
 their home. He knew the object of the inroad 
 on the village, and to the recovery of your 
 mistress he zealously and indefatigably ad- 
 dressed himself. He discovered that she had 
 
300 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 neither reached Hamadan nor Kermanshah ; 
 and his unceasing inquiries, at length, succeeded 
 in discovering both the fact of her still remain- 
 ing in the robbers* den, and also the reason of 
 her detention. This once ascertained, the 
 means, which had already effected so much, were 
 used to accomplish her liberation also. 
 
 “ To explain these means is more than I 
 can at present do. You can comprehend 
 that they must have been powerful, and may 
 imagine how widely spread must be that 
 influence which can effect such objects with 
 so much unerring certainty. It is, indeed, 
 able to achieve far more than this ; more than 
 you can fancy, or perhaps would believe. It 
 is an engine, which, wielded with skill and 
 knowledge, could now, as in times of yore, 
 subvert thrones and kingdoms. But this is 
 foreign to my purpose, which was to show you 
 how much you truly owe to Allee, and what a 
 mind is enshrined within the forbidding form 
 of the Buchtiaree horse-dealer.’* 
 
 a Ay, father, what a mind, indeed ! May 
 the Giver of all things look on us in mercy, 
 and heal and spare him to us. Alas ! alas ! 
 can it be, that the hand of such a wretch has 
 been permitted to effect so great a calamity ? 
 
 I cannot believe it ! I cannot endure the 
 thought. And oh ! how much more bitter to 
 think that he was smitten in protecting a 
 worthless life like mine !*’ 
 
THE BUCHTI AREE ADVENTURER. 301 
 
 “ Forbear, my son, it is not thus the lesson 
 should be received, nor the trial endured. Is 
 it for worms like us to question the decrees of 
 the Most High ? If it were written that such 
 was to be Allee’s fate, could it have been in 
 thy power to save him from the stroke of 
 destiny? Reflect! be wise, and let us, in all 
 humility, submit to the Almighty will, await- 
 ing the event with patient resignation/* 
 
 During all that long and anxious night, did 
 Hoossein hover over the couch of his friend, 
 whose sleep, at first profound and tranquil, after 
 a time became troubled and uneasy; and his 
 heart failed him as he observed the visible in- 
 crease of every adverse symptom, the dry 
 hot skin, the parched mouth, and heavy 
 labouring breath. Yet still with the fond 
 blindness of one, who will hope almost against 
 conviction, did he watch with longing spirit for 
 the coming morning, in the fond belief that its 
 freshness would revive the sick, and give new 
 life to the disordered frame. Vain hope ! 
 Morning indeed, came, and the feverish rest- 
 lessness, which had agitated the sufferer, ap- 
 peared to have gone with the shades of night ; 
 but the beams of the rising sun cast their light 
 upon a countenance so sunken and pallid, 
 that even Hoossein*s sanguine spirit could read 
 nothing there but fast approaching death. 
 
 Dreadfully shocked and terrified, he rose 
 
302 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROOj 
 
 and would have called the Meerza, but the 
 sick man beckoned him to come near* and be- 
 sought him to sit beside the couch, 
 
 “ We have not, my dear Hoossein, much 
 time to spend together ; let us not shorten it 
 by useless attempts to relieve me. The Meerza 
 can do nothing : no earthly power can now 
 prolong my life, nor, but for thee, should X 
 desire it to be lengthened. Can the know- 
 ledge of that secret X have sought so earnestly 
 to learn ; the union X have panted for so long, 
 be attained too early ? Could I but have seen 
 thee happy, peacefully settled in thy native 
 home, no wish would have remained un grati- 
 fied. But such was not the will of the Most 
 High, and the span of my life has been cut 
 short by a murderer. Yet why blame the hand 
 that looses the bonds of the captive, that 
 frees the imprisoned soul, and sends it to the 
 home it longs for ? God has said the word, 
 and the spark flies upward to rejoin the parent 
 fire ! Thy time, too, will come, my beloved. 
 Thou hast yet a weary journey to perform, but 
 thy spirit is not less an emanation from the 
 Divine essence 3 like mine it will seek for re- 
 union, as the arrow flies to the mark, and once 
 joined in bliss, we separate no more.” 
 
 Thus did Allee continue to speak, his mind oc- 
 casionally wandering into the regions of mysti- 
 cism, and at other times lighting up with a flash 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 303 
 
 of its pristine animation and firmness, till the 
 Meerza entered. A single glance disclosed to 
 him the truth, and he cast a significant look at * 
 Hoossein. It caught the eye of Allee, who 
 replied to it with a ghastly smile, “ Ay, friend, 
 you are right, the scene is closing here ; the 
 great secret will soon be none to me, in another 
 hour the subtile essence will have escaped, the 
 worthless casket will alone remain !” 
 
 Calm and self-collected as the Meerza from 
 long habit had become, he could not contem- 
 plate unmoved the last moments of this remark- 
 able and interesting being. His agitation was 
 not unobserved. a Thou art thinking, my bro- 
 ther, on the days we have passed, when life was 
 young and hope more bright; when we strove 
 together in the arduous paths of knowledge, and 
 sought unwearied for the glorious consumma- 
 tion ; many and chequered have they been, but 
 dear to the hearts of both ! Like life itself, they 
 are gone and return not again. By the memory 
 of those days, by the pure and holy love we 
 have borne each other, I conjure thee to 
 extend to this youth my second self, the guid- 
 ance and protection which thou canst so well 
 bestow, and he may much require . 55 
 
 By the pure spirit of truth, which we have 
 sought together, and the all-pervading essence 
 of that divine love, I swear to observe thy be- 
 hest , 55 replied the Meerza solemnly. 
 
304 
 
 ALLEE NEEMROO, 
 
 “ It is sufficient/ 5 replied Allee, u I am satis- 
 fied. Bury me, my friend, in the spot which 
 thou knowest; well dost thou remember the 
 cause of this desire, and I know thou wilt per- 
 form for me this last office, as I should have 
 done to thee, had the duty fallen to my lot. 
 Hoossein, dear friend, forget not him who loved 
 thee ; and, when in future and happier days 
 thou shalt look back to the scenes and dangers 
 of thy youth, think of him who mingled in them, 
 and only sought to save thee from evil/’ 
 
 Hoossein could not speak : with difficulty he 
 restrained his emotion, as he threw himself be- 
 side his dying friend, and clasped his hand now 
 damp with the chill of death, and wiped the 
 clammy dew from his brow. Allee acknow- 
 ledged his sense of the service by a slight pres- 
 sure of his hand : it was his last effort ; for as 
 Hoossein gazed, the once piercing eye became 
 dim and fixed, the sound of death was heard in 
 his throat, and a lifeless mass of clay was all 
 that remained of the energetic and warm-hearted 
 Allee Neemroo. 
 
 In a remote valley of the Buchtiaree moun- 
 tains, and in a sheltered nook, may still be seen 
 the ruins of a small mausoleum, surrounded 
 by the remains of a garden, where some 
 fruit trees yet struggle with the thorns 
 and the ranker growth of the soil. Beside 
 its run a clear brook which derives its 
 
THE BUCHTIAREE ADVENTURER. 305 
 
 stream from a fountain in the hollow behind 
 and which once rendered the garden a delicious 
 spot. A little lower in the plain stand the roof- 
 less walls of a village now utterly deserted ; the 
 inhabitants have long since gone to occupy 
 their narrow dwelling beneath the stones which 
 mark an ancient burying ground. That village 
 was once a great resort of pilgrims to the tomb 
 in the garden, which was held in high repute as 
 possessing many virtues. Even yet, though 
 the mausoleum is in ruins, and the village has 
 almost disappeared, the spot is regarded with 
 a mysterious reverence, and many a wandering 
 Eeliaut and rude mountaineer, from Kerman- 
 shah to Shuster, will halt in his journey, or turn 
 from his path, to say a prayer at the tomb of 
 the Horse-dealer of Louristan. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 LONDON! 
 
 PRINTED BY SCHULZE AND CO. 13 , TOLAND STREET. 
 
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