THE FAKIR AND THE BHÂNDS.
Many years ago there lived in a village on the banks of the Indus River an old Fakir, by the name of Shah Bilâwal. Like most of his class he was living a life of mortification, frequently torturing himself; and the few garments that he wore were rotten and dirty. This old Fakir was one day crossing the River Chenâb in a boat with a number of other persons who were also bound for the other side.
After the boatmen had pushed off and had got well into the stream, they all fixed their eyes on the Fakir, who they thought was a mad man; for his appearance made him look like one.
Some of the company in the boat belonged to a class called “Bhânds,” and the boatman said to them “Cannot some one of you perform some act that will please the Spirit of the River “Kwaja Khizr,” so that we may reach the opposite shore in safety?”
Upon this, some of the Bhânds began to snigger and laugh at the Fakir, and tried to ridicule him in every possible way; but Shah Bilâwal, who was a devout man after his class, passed all their sneers away and took no notice of them.
Mockery, however, in Oriental philosophy, and in the traditions of all people, we know is looked upon with contempt.
A voice came to the Fakir, “Are these mockers to be destroyed?” and he replied audibly, “No! make them sensible people to respect their Allah,” the Almighty.
Before they had arrived at the opposite shore they desisted from their fun and frolic, and paid all due respect to the Fakir, and became his followers ever afterwards.
In the course of time they all died, and their graves are to be seen in the village of “Lalliân,” in the district of Jang.