“Nanak” remained tranquil, and said, “A holy man needs no defence from such things; his defence is in the purity of his doctrine, and though the world may change, the Creator of it is immutable.”
These words brought them to his feet, and caused their miracles and enchantments to cease as if by magic.
“Blind beggar.”—Many of the blind amongst the Mahomedans are styled “Hafiz,” which literally signifies in Arabic those of retentive memory, and who know the Qorân, or Furkān, by heart: “Furkān” meaning the book which distinguishes truth from falsehood.
These men live upon the alms of the faithful, and on festival days are employed to repeat the Qorân, being fed from day to day, and at the conclusion of the festival they are presented with a whole suit of clothes, from head to foot.
Occasionally they are known to earn money by lacing “charpais” with string or tape, which is quite an industry with them.
A blind man from the village of “Sheerka” used to be able to wander about in the jungle, and find his way back to his hut. He was familiar with the cries of many beasts and birds, and would imitate them most correctly.
If asked to thread a needle this man would place the needle and cotton beneath his tongue, and in a very short time pass the thread through the eye of the needle.
“Kummul.”—From the Sanscrit word “Kammal,” meaning literally a blanket. It is made of coarse wool, loosely woven and soft in texture; the word in its second signification meaning “soft.” A small blanket is called a “Kumli.” In the winter, farmers and others in the district, wear them over their other clothes.
In days long gone by, when the district was under a native yoke, anyone found wearing a blanket, or as it was then locally called, a “Bhūra,” was liable to be pressed to labour for the State; so the farmers had a saying amongst themselves which ran thus:
Vassay meenh thay Bhoorah sheenh