From the Asiatic Journal. MAHOMEDAN FESTIVALS IN INDIA.

the sum, when collected throughout all the bazaars of the place, amounted to a very considerable revenue.

soul of the guilty woman, and horror and despair | hundred thousand persons, may be imagined. crept through her veins; but, when she would Since our acquaintance with the interior of have thrown herself at his feet to implore for South America has increased, we have become mercy on herself and the stranger that was dying familiar with the appearance of beggars on horsethere, without allowing her to give utterance to back; but it is only, we believe, at Lucknow, the agonised prayer which rose to her parched that one of the fraternity aspires to an elephant. lips, with a fierce and cruel emphasis, he checked A few years ago, a mendicant, who went by the her, saying, "You have sworn on that crucifix, name of Shah Jee, being in high favour with the there is no one there." king, to whom, it is said, he had predicted things which afterwards came to pass, was permitted to levy contributions through the city, and, mounted upon an elephant, demanded five cowries daily of every shopkeeper. The tax upon each individual The poor remnants of splendour still possessed was very small, it taking four score of these by the court of Delhi, are mustered and display-shells to make up the value of a half-penny; but ed with some approximation of former pomp at the annual celebration of the Buckra Eade; but it is at Lucknow that the most opposing spectacle takes place at this festival. The followers of After the elephants have been well washed in Mahomed claim to be descendants of the patri- the river, their skins are oiled, and their heads archs, through his son Ishmael, who they aver to painted with various devices; they are then have been chosen for the offering of the Almighty, decorated in their embroidered jhools, many of and not Isaac: thus differing from the belief of which have gold borders a quarter of a yard in Jews and Christians, and supporting their asser-depth, and these are surmounted by howdahs, tion, in contradiction to the authority of the either painted to resemble enamel, or formed Bible, by writings which, in their opinion, con- entirely of silver. The caparisons of the horses tain sufficient evidence in favour of their claims. are not less magnificent; the saddles and stirrups The offering thus made to Heaven, is commemo-are of solid silver, and large silver necklaces, rated by the sacrifice of particular animals, composed of pendant medallions, spread over the camels, sheep, goats, kids, or lambs, according to chest, have a very beautiful effect, and give out a each person's means; this is supposed to answer tinkling sound, as the animal, proud of his trapa double purpose, not only honouring the memory pings, prances along. The tails are dyed of a of Abraham and Ishmael, but the sacrifices assist- bright scarlet, and some have stars and crescents ing in a time of great need. It is supposed that painted on their haunches. Gold is sometimes the entrance to paradise is guarded by a bridge substituted for silver in the caparisons of these made of a scythe or some instrument equally animals, and where ornaments of this kind are sharp, and affording as unstable a footing. The too costly for the purses of the owners, decorafollowers of the prophet are required to skait or tions not so rich, but equally gay, are substituted. skim over this passage, and it will be attended The necklace is composed of beads, and the with more or less difficulty, according to the de- head is adorned with tufts of variegated silk, gree of favour they have obtained in the sight of which have a very picturesque effect. Camels heaven. The truly pious will be wafted over in are usually decorated in the same manner, it not safety, but the undeserving must struggle many being very often that, with the exception of the times, and be often cut down in the attempt, be-bells attached to their collars, silver ornaments fore they can gain the opposite side. In this extremity, it is imagined that the same number and kind of animals, which, being clean and esteemed fitting for sacrifice, they have offered up at the celebration of the Buckra Eade, will be in waiting to convey them in safety along the perilous passage of the bridge. Under this belief, the richer classes of Mahomedans supply their indigent brethren with goats and sheep for the sacrifice a work of charity incited by the purest motives, and which, if not possessing all the efficacy ascribed to it, at least furnishes the poor man's house with an ample and a welcome feast; for though poverty compels the lower classes of Mussulmans to imitate the Hindoos in the frugality of a vegetable meal, they never refuse meat when it is procurable.

Great preparations are made at Lucknow for the celebration of the Buckra Eade; a busy scene takes place upon the river, where the elephants are sent to bathe for the occasion. One at least of these animals being kept by every person who can afford to maintain them, the multitude of lephants, in a population estimated at three

are bestowed upon animals more esteemed for their utility than for the beauty of their appearance, or as an appendage of state. The camel is perhaps underrated, for, as an adjunct to an oriental pageant, he is of great importance; the nodding heads, arched necks, and conical backs of these animals, though grotesque in themselves, add greatly to the effect of a mingled body of elephants, horses, and men; an Asiatic group never being perfect except when camels form a portion of it. The animals intended for sacrifice, at the celebration of the Buckra Eade, are conveyed to a place at some distance from the city, built for the purpose of containing them, and called the Eade-Gaarh, a court or quadrangle, surrounded by a bastioned wall, and entered by lofty gateways. The processions at Delhi and Lucknow are particularly imposing, that of Delhi owing the greater portion of its splendour to the retinues of the Omrahs and great men of the court, while at Lucknow the cortège of the king renders every attempt at imitation hopeless. All his troops appear upon this day in new clothing, and the coup d'œil is rendered more effective

by an attention to minute particulars generally their colours unfurled, and their bands playing, neglected in native arrangements; Asiatics pay-while hundreds of banneroles, of gold and silver ing little regard to consistence. The van of the tissue, flaunt in the air in every direction. cavalcade is formed of fifty camels, carrying Notwithstanding the want of order and disswivels, each accompanied by a driver and two cipline, which seems essential to the movement gunners, in white uniforms, with turbans and of so large a body, the procession arrives at its cummerbunds of red and green, the colours of place of destination without being materially disthe cloth composing the housings of the camels. arranged by the apparent confusion, which is A park of artillery succeeds, the gunners being considerably augmented by the clashing of instruclothed in blue uniforms; next two troops of ments, those of Europe striving, with hopeless cavalry, in the picturesque vests worn by suwars, efforts, to vie with the clang and clamour of the of scarlet cloth, with pointed caps of black lamb-native trumpet and drum. The cavalcade being skin. After these, a regiment of foot, only half-drawn up at the place appointed, the superior clad, in wild barbaric costume, the trowser priest or moollah, after going through the usual scarcely extending mid-way down the thigh, religious service, presents a knife to the king, where it is vandyked with black points: they who, repeating a prayer, plunges his weapon into have red jackets, and small turbans of black the throat of a camel, the victim selected for leather, and the warlike, but dissonant, music of sacrifice. The artillery-men are all in readiness, the dunkah, or kettle-drum, assimilates well with and when the signal is given of the completion the strange fantastic display made by these of the ceremony by the king himself, a general troops. The nujeebs are closely followed by the discharge of musketry and cannon announces most gorgeous portion of the spectacle, the the circumstance to the whole of the city. The elephant-carriages of the king and his court; the religious part of the festival is then ended, and great satrap himself sits enthroned in a sort of the rejoicings begin. The camel thus slaughtertriumphal car of silver, canopied and curtained ed is served up at the royal table, on the only with crimson velvet, embroidered and fringed occasion in which the flesh of this animal is with gold, and drawn by four elephants exactly eaten in Hindostan; portions are sent as prematched in colour, height, and size. The others sents, a gift which is supposed to confer no small have only two elephants each, but all glitter degree of honour, and the European residents, with gold and silver, and the gallant company, both at Lucknow and at Delhi, are often compliso proudly borne along, shine from head to foot mented with a share. The feasting is universal, in gems and brocade. Their turbans aie adorned for it being an essential duty on the part of the with costly aigrettes of jewels; clasps, studs, Mahomedans to dispense to others the bounties belts, rings, and bracelets, of the most precious and blessings which they themselves receive, the treasures of the mine, appear in the greatest pro-poor on this day partake of the luxuries of the fusion, down to the gem-enameled slipper, and rich man's table. Upon his return to the city, these are set off by the graceful flow of drapery the king of Oude holds a court, and the Buckra composed of the most beautiful woven tissues, Eade is often chosen as the period of conferring and shawls of the finest fabric. Round these honour and titles. Formerly it was the custom chariots, chobdars (mace-bearers), chuprassies, for Europeans to receive regular patents of hurkaras, and other state attendants, some brand-nobility from native courts; but this does not ishing sheathed scymetars, and others fanning the appear to be common at present, the honour is air with chowries, shout out the titles of the little coveted by people who affect to look down illustrious and puissant personages to whom they upon Asiatic dignities. On the presentation of a belong, while a cloud of irregular horse hover on khillaut, titles of honour are always included, either side, tilting and curveting apparently and the heralds are very liberal in their proclawith disorderly recklessness, yet in reality con- mations, especially at Delhi, where it is cheaper, ducting their evolutions with the most consum- and consequently more expedient to substitute mate skill. The king's led horses follow to swell high-sounding words for more solid marks of the pomp and the parade; they are all richly royal favour. Many governor-generals and comcaparisoned, and attended by grooms in hand-manders-in-chief have been made omrahs, khans, some liveries. The royal paalkie and palanquin or nawabs, by the king of Delhi; yet it is very next appear; these native vehicles are of the questionable whether any have thought it worth most splendid description, constructed entirely of their while to have these titles confirmed accordwrought gold, each carried by bearers clad in ing to the etiquette practised concerning those long scarlet vests, embroidered with gold, their conferred at European courts, and both the turbans ornamented with the emblems of royalty. khillaut and the title seem now to have degeneThe state-carriage also forms a portion of this rated into an idle ceremony, which, as far as part of the show; it is of English make, drawn Europeans are concerned, means nothing but an by eight black horses, driven in hand by a empty compliment. With natives, however, the European coachman in scarlet livery, or rather rank and consequence of each individual mateuniform. The English gentlemen composing rially depend upon the degree of estimation in the foreign portion of the king's suite appear in which he is known to be held at court; certain their court-dresses, mounted upon elephants, and distinctions are withheld from the multitude, after them a long train of the native nobility, which are eagerly coveted, and made the subject also mounted in the same manner, the whole of much cabal and intrigue. The rank of a party being closed by horse and foot soldiers, those is known by his equipage, palanquins of a belonging to the India Company marching with peculiar construction being only permitted to

den. The murtesy of the Hindoo is
he is of opinion that the nu-
in practised by the differ-
teenth, all emanate from the

lamptable to him, who
Tims to sit various persons;
thepression, he pays respect to the
tefioronar distinguished

oration of remarkable events in mometr his muscles. Political Simdane effect in producing this Himionssinoree found in advantageous HOUSES Mussulan ceremothe thing tree nut been backward in of cligous juices upon occaTreat importures. Casings have also extremely imperfety of those who conformed to the creed of Mahamed, retaining comomaisandionecranes little less than idolamones while others of per descent, bave found most impossible to withsand the corrupting Temple Tes amidst this harmonicoriance etween persons professing such religions there are occasional outbreaks, he Mostom mid the Hindoo display all weares suni minosity which formerly disThe guinst each other. Insults are als which neither party are slow enger and when, as it sometimes The Hulings of the Hindoo and the Musilovether is requires no small exertion end of the authorities to prevent a hostile Aliabad, on the celebration of Non some of the leading persons rethe judge to request that the Hindoos, lout to perform some of their idolasi should not be permitted to blow ets and beat their drums, and bring is devices in contact with the sad semity, the manifestations of their

ath of the Imaums. They repremust lively manner, the obligation ins were under to support the worme God against infidels, and were the assurance that they should the intermixture of the proshould be strictly confined to ope. The Hindoos were equally ding their rights, and it became the troops for the preven

remonies which preceded it, grandeur reserved for the disof the Mohurrum, when the the place of interment. This the military cavalcade of the gether with the funeral proer princes, and the wedding reand bridegroom, divorced by pal day. The banners are at the poles being usually surest composed of an extended emblematic of the fire holy perwber's family, and a symbol the Sheah seet. Many art of their religious principles ing up last; the Soonnee displays scale the Sheah extends the

whole five. The horse of prince Hossein and his | the burial. It is rather a curious spectacle to see camp-equipage appear, attended with all the at- the tombs themselves consigned to earth, with tributes of sovereignty; some of the tazees, of the same ceremonies which would attend the inwhich there is a great variety, are accompanied humation of the bodies of deceased persons; the by a platform, on which three effigies are placed, tazees are stripped of their ornaments, and when -the ass Borak, the animal selected by Mahomed little is left except the bamboo frames, they are to bear him on his ride to heaven,—and two hou- deposited in pits. This ceremony usually takes ries, the latter, generally speaking, being frightful place by torch-light, the red glare of innumerable figures, more closely resembling demons than the flambeaux adding considerably to the wild and idea they are intended to convey of the beauties picturesque effect of the scene. A mussaulchee, of the Moslem paradise. The tomb of Cossim, or torch-bearer, is, generally speaking, one of the the husband of Hossein's daughter, is honoured most demoniac-looking apparitions that can be by being carried under a canopy; the bridal trays, imagined. Those who follow this occupation are palanquins, and other paraphernalia, accompany a poor and low class of people, burthened with a it, and the whole is profusely garlanded with small quantity of clothing, and that stained and flowers. When numbers of these processions, smeared by the greasy implements of their trade; all composed of the same emblematic devices, the mussaul itself is merely a piece of wood en differently ornamented, join together, the effect twined with filthy rags, and fed from a cruise is exceedingly imposing, forming a spectacle of containing a coarse thick oil, which gives out an which it is impossible to give an adequate de- impure and lurid flame. The swart countenances, scription. Thousands and tens of thousands are dark limbs, and uncouth drapery of men so frequently assembled, with long trains of horses, withered and so wild in their attire as to be easily camels, and elephants; a certain number of the mistaken for beings of a lower sphere, assume two latter are laden with cakes of the finest an even fearful aspect under the flickering light wheaten bread, which, at every place where the of the torches, which they brandish with strange tazees are rested, are distributed amongst the po- gestures, as they rush with wild halloos along pulace; large pitchers of sherbet are also provided the plains. In such an illumination, the whole for the same purpose; and numbers of water-car-pageant becomes confused and indistinct; here riers are in full employment, paid by the rich and charitable to administer to the wants of the poor followers of Ali. These processions take the field at break of day, but there are so many pauses for e reading of the poems dedicated to this portion ..the history of the events of Kurbelah, and such A Prous rehearsals of Hossein's dying scene, it is night before the commencement of the

ent.

Mussulmans walk, on these occasions, heads and their feet bare, beating their I tearing their hair, and throwing ashes sons with all the vehemence of the rief; but many content themselves Convenient display of sorrow, leavTourners the task of inciting and inmultitude by their lamentations and The zeal and turbulence of the Ali's followers, are peculiarly offenonnees, who, professing to look upon Houssein as holy and unfortunate the prophet's family, and to regret tances which led to their untimely ked by the almost idolatrous frenzy y their less orthodox brethren, and sion of this feeling often leads to turbances, which break out upon the the tazees. Private quarrels between sects are frequently reserved for adjustthis period, when, under pretext of recal, each party may make an assault upon ay without exposing the real ground of ity: amongst the Mussulman sepoys in apany's service such feuds are but too n, and it is sometimes found expedient to the Soonnees off to a distance during the 1 of the Mohurrum. In a few places, which the Ganges or Jumna, the tazees are wn into the river; but generally there is a „e piece of ground set apart for the purpose of

and there some bright object catching the light comes forth-glittering arms or the blaze of gold and gems-but the rest is one black phantom,a moving mass strange and indefinite, and rendered almost terrific by the shouts of highly excited men and the continual discharge of musketry.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine. WILLIAM PITT.

The history of Pitt substantiates in the clearest manner two principles, of the highest importance to the British statesman of every period-that the nation eminently honours political manliness; and that no rank of ability, destitute of moral worth, can possess a permanent ascendency in the general mind. As an illustration of those principles, the remembrance of this first of British ministers is of immeasurable value. The minister who shall emulate him in his steady intrepidity, pure patriotism, and stainless life, may The statesman who scorn the assaults of party. reposes his popularity on the strength of his talents, while he insults public feeling by the license of his life, must see in the humiliation of Pitt's brilliant rival the prognostic of his own decline.

The circumstances under which Pitt assumed the ministry in 1783 have been already remarked, as bearing the most singular likeness to those of the present hour. The strength of his antagonists, their connection with the proudest part of the aristocracy on one side through North, and with the most violent part of the democracy on the other through Fox; their influence over the chief organs of public opinion, their power in the cities and boroughs, their great abilities, and their submissive majorities in the house of commons, raised a mass of obstacles, before

privileged persons, who receive them, with the office for a Mahomedon monarch to perform to a grant of their titles, from the king. Christian lady. The rigid laws made and enactThe festivities of the Buckra Eade are con-ed by the British government, are in a slight decluded by nautches and fire-works; every palace gree relaxed when such a circumstance takes place, throughout the city of Lucknow is illuminated; and the bride is permitted to retain the string of the river is covered with boats, filled with musi-pearls, with which the king encircles her neck. cians and dancing-girls, and though the rejoic-At other festivals, the situation of English ladies ings are more strictly private in the zenanas, is exceedingly tantalising; they see trays laid at they too have their share; the ladies, sumptuously their feet, containing shawls such as had hauntattired, and laden with jewels, congregate toge-ed their early dreams, dazzling brocades of silver, ther; dances of a more decorous nature than and necklaces of glittering gems. These are those exhibited to male eyes are performed before offered to their acceptance with flattering comthem, and after a luxurios banquet, they indulge pliments, in which they are told that all the with never-failing zest in the hookah and paan. riches of the kingdom shall be at their disposal. Notwithstanding the time occupied in the pro- They are content with the portion assigned to cession to the Eade-Gaarh, or in the court or them, but see-and sometimes the sight brings durbar held after it, the king contrives to devote tears into their eyes-the tempting treasures a portion of the day to the favourite spectacle, seized by a government chuprassy, and restored the wild-beast fights, at which, strange to say, to the place from whence they came. It is nemany European ladies submit to be present. A cessary that the resident should be made of very public breakfast also to the members of the stern stuff to resist the pleadings of young ladies, residency forms a part of the entertainments. In who implore him to make an exception in their so anomalous a proceeding as the appearance of particular case from the general rule so despoticfemales at an Asiatic court, there can of course ally enforced, and resistance is rendered more be no established rule respecting their dress; difficult by the good-humoured endeavours of the convenience more than etiquette is consulted, natives to second the fair damsels' wishes. Conand the ladies do not scruple to attend these fidential servants sometimes contrive to rescue a breakfasts in morning dresses, and in bonnets. shawl or two from the hands of the Philistines, and During the reign of those enormous hats, which after the whole nuzzur has been hopelessly surscarcely fell short of a carriage-wheel in circum-rendered, a part has been clandestinely conveyed, ference, the king of Oude experienced consider- under cover of the night, to the private apartable difficulty in the investiture of the haarh, or ment of the disconsolate fair one, who, if unmarnecklace; the tinsel garland, on more than one ried, and therefore not implicating any one but occasion, stuck half-way, producing no little em- herself, does not feel bound to respect the ordibarrassment on the part of the lady, and com- nances of the government, and accepts with as pelling the king to abandon the hope of performing little scruple as if she were purchasing some his part of the ceremony with his accustomed piece of contraband goods in England.

grace.

The celebration of the Mohurrum, in all large Mahomedan communities of the Sheah sect, though, strictly speaking, a fast of the most mournful kind, is accompanied by so much pomp and splendour, that strangers are at some loss to distinguish it from festivals of pure rejoicing. In no part of India is this interesting anniversary of the Moslem year commemorated with more zeal and enthusiasm than at Lucknow.

Few things surprise the natives of India more than the changes in European fashions; no sooner has an unfortunate dirzee (tailor) mastered the intricacies of a folded body, than he has to exert his bewildered faculties upon the production of another, without plait or pucker; some ladies, who are unable to afford any instructions to their work-people, exhibit prints of fashions to the wondering eyes of these poor men, who gaze It is certain that the Sheah sect, who are setupon them with amazed and hopeless counte- tled in Hindostan, are in some degree obnoxious nances, honestly acknowledging their inability to to the charge brought against them by their enefollow such a guide. The mysterious phrase-mies, of introducing rites and ceremonies almost ology, in which the milliners of Paris and Lon- bordering upon idolatry in their devotion to the don are wont to envelope their descriptions, are memory of the Imaums Hossein and Houssein. equally puzzling to the ladies themselves, and Imbibing a love of show from long domestication strange indeed are some of the articles produced with a people passionately attached to pageantry by the joint efforts of the mystified dirzee, and and spectacle, they have departed from the plainhis equally perplexed mistress. This state of ness and simplicity of the worship of their ancesthings is not very propitious to feminine display; tors, and in the decorations of the tazees, and the and, accordingly, it must reluctantly be said, that processions which accompany them to the place the court at Lucknow does not derive any addi-of sepulture, display their reverential regard for tional lustre from the ladies of the residency when they make their appearance at it, the effect being rather diminished than heightened by the contrast of the somewhat plain, if not dowdy, apparel of the fair visitants, with the gorgeous w of the Asiatic groups.

The king of Oude is often present at the celeof European marriages, and upon one at least, gave the bride away; a strange

Ali and his sons in a manner which would be esteemed scandalous if thus accompanied in Persia and Arabia, where the grief of the sheah is manifested more quietly and soberly, without the admixture of those theatrical exhibitions, which so wonderfully excite and inflame the mind at the celebration of this festival all over India.

Several processions take place during the celebration of the Mohurrum. At Lucknow, on the