‘But the rose-bud in the garden of my heart has been allowed to decay, and has not been plucked as a nosegay by any one.’[[16]]
[16]. Contrast this simple lamentation[lamentation] with the absurd effusions of Mirza Abu Taalib Khan, at a succeeding page.
‘And yet, when her father proposed a husband to her, she replied: “that learning was only to be found among the lower orders, and with such she could not wed, that princes were in general ignorant, and with such she could not be happy.”
‘In the zenanahs, the ladies divert themselves by bringing up pets of different kinds, such as minas, (a kind of starling,) fowls, goats, pigeons, &c. The cat, in particular, has an exclusive privilege, in consequence of the prophet’s having had a favorite puss, which he took much pleasure in feeding: hence, that animal is held sacred, and the murder of it considered as the highest sacrilege. They tell a story, that Mahomed, when ascending into heaven, happened to take a peep, en passant, into hell, where, observing an old woman making a sad lamentation, he asked the angel Gabriel why she suffered? The angel referred him for information to the old lady herself, who replied, that she underwent such torments for having caused the death of a cat! When this holy personage returned to the earth, he told the story as a warning to his disciples; but, notwithstanding such holy interference, the cat is considered as an envious animal, wishing the decrease of the family, that the mistress of it may caress her the more; whereas, the dog, (though deemed an unclean animal,) is thought to pray for encrease, that he may have more bones to pick!
‘It is a general custom among the Soozees[[17]], both men and women, to choose some holy man to be their guide and instructor, (not dissimilar to the office of a confessor,) whom they call their peer;[[18]] designating themselves his mooreed, or disciple. When a lady of rank has fixed on this holy personage for her peer, he is invited to the house, where the following ceremony ensues. Standing on the outside of the purdah, or curtain, he holds one end of a handkerchief, the other end of which is held by his intended mooreed within the purdah. In this position he reads aloud select passages from the Koran, allusive to the subject, and finishes with a lecture on morality. Thus adopted, he is thenceforward to her as her God and the prophet. In all difficult situations, she looks to him for relief, calling on his name in danger; and the death of the peer does not even dissolve the contract. After the first ceremony, the peer seldom visits his mooreed; indeed, as thousands may choose the same spiritual guide, such duty would prove too much even for his spirit to bear. However, there are instances of a peer being chosen from motives very different from what may be supposed in general to operate; hence, we sometimes discover, that, under the cover of a peer, the lady indulges herself with a private lecture from a young lover. Indeed, the Sheeaus give this as a reason for their discontinuance of the practice.
[17]. A particular sect.
[18]. Peer literally means a prophet.