1 *
2 CONDUCT TO HINDOOS. 201
3 IdkaAm, and fiwbade than to be molested, imleM they speared w
4 nramlisi yet dirt-priiice himself was induced by abigotted Moollah
5 to endeavour to convert two Siks» and to put tlieni to death for their
6 obstinate rejection of his arguments* ; and the Hindoo Hiafrtrj^ of the
7 battleof flamieepiitdeflcribeaa most inhuman massacreof the unresisting '
8 £igitive8» andcYenof thepriaonen} which he attributes entirely to the re*
9 ligious fury of the Mussulmans. Whatevermay be their conduct in war,,
10 their treatment of men whom they reckon infidels, in their own country,
11 is laudable in Mahomedans. Their hatred to idolators is well known }
12 yet the Hindoos are allowed the free exercise of their religion, and
13 their temples are entirely unmolested ; though they are forbidden all
14 religious procrssioiis. and all public exposinfr of their idols. The
15 Hindoos are held to be impure, and no strict man would consent to
16 meat of their dressing ; but they are not treated with any parti->
17 cular contempt or hardship : they are employed in situations of trust
18 and emoiuaient, and those who reside in Afghaunistaun, appear as
19 much at their ease as most of the other inh^itants f. The beet
20 proof of the toleration practised by the Atghauns, is the good report
21 of the Siiis who iiave travelled among them. The Siks are accua-
22 ♦ TIic A%haun vs^m t ild the story, expressed a pmpor "cn^eoftliecnid^of UlbpiOp
23 ceeding, and mentioned tUe fimmew of the Siks with applause.
24 f I do not know whether the greater part of the A^auns would scruple to eat fiiod
25 prqTflrcd by a Hindoo. From the conduct of the great Doorauncc Lord, Ahmctl Khaun
26 Noor/ye iu the following instance, one would think they would not ; but 1 must cunfeas
27 iIm PmiM irii0 told me the itaiy, Mcmcd to
28 In a strong light : it I.* also to be rcxpeinbered, that Ahmet! Khaun affects to keep up the
29 genuine manners of the A%hauiU| and to deapiae all doodem refinements. He waii one
30 day riding out near Pteshiwer, niA KeAnrpet Klifliitt» s FnniMi ttbUBauai : they ali^ted
31 at* village not &r from thed^, and while they were Mated dkOM^a Hindoo fagro^httlMtt.
32 a large plate of curds, wliicli It may he supposed was not di-lnd out with tlie neatness ihjit
33 would be seen in a nobleman's palace. Ahmed Khaun, liowever, began on it with a good
34 appetite, and when the Pentan pointed oat dwt die cqrds were diitf, and "were b^dda*
35 impure, as being made by a Hindoo^ he only answered, Hindoo che sug uat kdi Nidji*
36 "baushed?" " \Mmt sort of dog is a Hindoo, tlint he shodd pntcad to b« impure?*
37 and went on with his mess till he had emptieil tlie platter.
38 Digitized by Google