1 ACCQUNT OF THE SOOFEES.
2 ttenli jDcMMqaoioeafaiiilfltekeofaoniei^myi^^ Itkcii**
3 tonuury in Indii^ wbm the Smmees are not liTict to emery about
4 lti|^ly OTuunsntod faitn {in comnMmoniidoii of tbs dMlh of thft
5 of All), dming the fint ten days of the Moluirrem ; aod, these pro*
6 oetnons are vary cvbrnndaui in Ajjj^nniHtomi, both ai bekmging to
7 the Shooih wowhip, and oa being kbbtRNu. I had, in
8 fttbiddeo the Mnawlmani with the'embaaty to carry out their bien.
9 Tbey miaundentood the order, and went out in procession with flaga»
10 and all other gymbols used on (he occaaion) except the biers. This fla-
11 grant affront to the rel^;^ of the country, excited much surprise, but
12 no opposition, till-the next weekly assembly of the Ulima took place
13 at Court ^ when, one of the MooUahs, harangued for a long time on
14 the occaaion, and endeavoured to persuade the King that the Siunee
15 religion was in danger. The King* however, replied, that we were
16 honoured guests, and that our practice ahould never be interfered with.
17 The behaviour of the Sika on the occurrence of a similar circumstance,
18 in the camp of the envoy to Lahore, during the very same month,
19 formed a striking contrast to the moderation of the Afghauns. With-
20 out a word of explanation to the Envoy, a numerous band of fanatics
21 attacked his camp ; and, thougli they were soon repulsed by the
22 escort, and afterwards repressed by the chief of tlie Siks, they
23 wounded an ofH< er and some men, and lost several of their own body
24 in the course of their outrageous attempt,
25 Aiiotht r sect in Caiibiil is that of ilir Soot'ces, who ought, perhaps,
26 to be coiisidei ( I I as a ( hi^ss of philosopbi i s. l ather than of reiigionist3.
27 As far as I can understand their mysttM ious <l<^ctriue, their leading
28 tenet i^enis to be, that the whole of the animated, and inanimate
29 creation is an illusion ; and, that nothing exists except the Supreme
30 Being, which presents itself under an infinity of shapes to the soul of
31 man, itself a portion of the divine essence. The coriteinpiation of
32 this th)ctrine raises the Soofees to the utmost pitch of enthusiasm,
33 Tliey admire God in every thing; and, by frequent nteditation on liis
34 attributes, and by tracing him through all his forms, they imagine
35 that they attain to an ineffitble love for the Deity, and even to an
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