I, too, am not here within the reach of books of reference. I will, however, try to suggest what occurs to me on the spur of the moment in the hope that it may possibly be of some slight use in your enquiries. It is very important, first of all, to learn how “Makarama” is spelt by the Yemen people in the Arabic character, and especially whether the “k” is a “kef” or a “qaf” ق . Then the lines you quote should be sent to me in the original Arabic dialect and character (not the Maghrebi form, of course) and transliterated in Roman characters[*] as you heard them, for a good deal depends, inter alia, on the Arabic equivalents, used by “the Makarama” of “God,” “heaven,” and “hell.” ... The sentiment of the translation is the Mulái of Hunza, about whom I have written in the last Asiatic Quarterly Review....
How do you know that the people are not Moslems? That their orthodox Muhammadan neighbours do not admit them to be such, is not conclusive, for I have heard rigid Sunnis even exclude Shiahs from that appellation. If you could remember the exact question which you put on that subject to your Mukarama friends and their precise reply, it might help to a conclusion.
Driving a scapegoat into the mountains is a common practice among the Afghans, who call themselves “Beni Israel” (not to be confounded with the Jews properly so called—their “Musáis” or “Yahûdis”). The other rites you speak of were alleged against the Karmathians and the Yazîdis are accused of them. Have you thought of the Yazîdis? The accusation of incestuous gatherings is, as you know, constantly brought by “the orthodox” against sectarians and I would not, in your place, give up the conjecture of a Karmathian origin of the “Makarama,” before you have gone further into the matter. Please, therefore, to remember all you can about your friends and, if I can, I shall aid your enquiry to the best of my ability. I think you are right about the Phœnician rites and the Sabean conjecture.
I do not think that “Makarama” is of Persian origin. Is it possibly “Mukarama” or “Mukarrima”? If so, this would be an appropriate title for a specially “blessed” or enlightened sect. Why do you call them a “sect”? Are they also ethnographically distinct from their neighbours and what are their occupations? Could you get me a copy of one of their charms? Their being visited by certain Indians would rather show their Ismailian connexion than that they are not a heretical Muhammadan sect. Indeed, among the Ismailian sects mentioned by Makrizi as having spread in Yemen, among other countries, are “the Kerámis, Karmátis, Khárijis, etc.,” “all of whom studied philosophy and chose what suited them.” I really think these are your “Makaráma.”
G. W. Leitner.
[*] I think “romanizing” the Oriental characters a great mistake, except “to make assurance doubly sure.” The Arabic spelling would at once limit conjectures and lead to a solution.
[148] We trust to be able to publish in our next issue the history of his family since 622 A.D. as also his photograph and those of his father and grandfather, the latter of whom tendered great services to our Government in Sind and Kandahar.—Ed.
[149] Being a report of an extempore address delivered before the Victoria Institute.