[385] I cannot hope to have restored every name of the Persian text to its correct original form.
[386] If the seven Richis, who are supposed to abide in the constellation of the Great Bear, are meant, their names differ very much from those commonly given, which are as follows: Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulustya, Kratu, and Vás ishta.
[387] Bang is an inebriating, maddening draught, made of hemp-leaves, henbane, opium, or masloe.—(Richardson’s Dict.)
[388] Black is the color of the Sunnites. This supports Professor Wilson’s Statement, agreeing with the Dabistan (see As. Trans., N. S. p. 75), that the Madárián are Sunnites. But, considering the descent of their founder, and the concurring account of several Asiatic authors, we may be disposed to denominate them Shiâhs, or Jsmámiahs, although the latter have adopted green as the distinguishing color of their sect, which is also that of the followers of the prophet.
[389] One seer = 2 lbs. 6 oz.; French weight, 933.005 grammes; 40 seers make a maund; one maund, in English Troy weight is 100 lbs.; French grammes, 27,320.182—(Useful Tables, edited by James Princep, Esq., Part I. p. 63).
[390] Badih-eddin, “the marvel of religion,” was the son of Saíd Alí, and his origin is traced up to the Imám Hossaín, son of Alí. He was born in the year of the Hejíra 442, A. D. 1050-1. Under the reign of Ibrahim Sherkey, he came to India, where he died in 1433 A. D., according to the dates of his birth and death 383 years old, but 395 and even 400 years old, according to the legend of this saint, who owed his longevity to the power of keeping his breath. Under the simple name of Madár, he is held in great veneration in India, where an annual feast is celebrated in his honor, and his tomb visited by numerous pilgrims, even in our days. He is said to have had 1442 sons, say spiritual children or disciples—(See for Madar, Mémoire sur les particularités de la Religion musulmane dans l’Inde, par M. Garcin de Tassy, pp. 54-62).
[391] This tale reminds us of a similar story related in the Mahábharat (Adhi-parva, Sambhava-parva, Adyaya 75, 76, edit. Calc., vol. I. p. 115). Kacha, the son of Vrihaspati, who was killed three times by the Asuras (the first time swallowed by jackals; afterwards, cut to pieces and thrown into the sea; and, finally, pulverised and swallowed by Çukra, the preceptor of the dáityas) and each time brought to life in a miraculous way.
[392] This a village near Firezabad, in the province of Agra.
[393] Armillam membro suo aperuit erecto.
[394] These sectaries worship the more terrible attributes of the Deity. Said Jelál, or Jelál-eddin Bokhárí was born in the year of the Hejira 707 (A. D. 1307); he died in 775 (A. D. 1374), and is buried in the town of Auch, in the province of Multan.—(See the work of M. Garcin de Tassy, quoted pp. 69-70).