1 POWER AND niFLUENCS OF THE MOOLLAHS. 215
2 innoceDt pleasure *. In some pwrtsof the couijrtiy» tbe M*>nl%%p
3 break lutes and fiddles, wherever they find them. Drmfna, '^^^impflttt
4 hautboyf . and flutes are exempted fi"oni this proscription, as being
5 manly and warlike ; but all other music is reckoned effeminate, and
6 inoottsisteut with the character of a true Mussulman. This austerity,
7 howe\er, is little practised h\' 1 ho people. The Moollahs are gene-
8 rally restrained to censurin<: tlie luore important breaches of religion
9 and morality ; and, in many part«, they have no power at all.
10 The Moollahs are very numerous, and are found in every rank,
11 firom the chief courtiers and ministers to the lowest class in the poorest
12 and wildest tribes. They are most numerous in propoiLiou Lo the
13 body of the people about towns. When mentioned as a body, they
14 ve woally GEiUed the UUm* (or learned)*
15 Tbiy are generally active, end umpmtMj aide neot mncb nk*
16 ladindto llie inliBfeeti of tlieir own body^ and canfid to mauilam its
17 tiBiidniicy* Thgy ane mpoKMiion of the greateit part of the leanb-
18 iag of tlio eoontiy. Tli« odinoaijon of the yontln the poKtioe iof
19 the Imt^ and the admmiatiaitkHi of juidoe m aU p«ta of tbe oonntay*
20 QOBplolelj nndeir lihe sojal aniihcmty, ase entudly ilitnultod to them i
21 and tlime adnmAagea^' tqgetlHr irith tfaeiaapeet whieh thak aupanor
22 knowfedge commands among an ignaTwit and intpecititioiis people^
23 enable the Moollahs in some circumstaaoea to exercise an aInioat'uii»
24 limited power over individiials> and even over bodies of meo'; to
25 dioak and controul the governors and other civil officers ; and ebnieib
26 tiities, to intimidate and endanger the King himself. This power is
27 employed to punish practices contrary to the Mahomm^an law, when
28 they occur amon*; its orthodox professors i to repress She^dis, and
29 other iutidcls ; and, at least aa often, to revenge the wrongs or for-
30 ward the inteBeats of iadividuab of the reUgiowi order. The inilueuce
31 • - ' ■ ... . - '-:
32 • Ahmed Mecr Waup?-, of M-hom a full account Is given In ihv historj', obtained by
33 this ^rrictnrsK, very greut popoUrity vrith tbe bulk of tlie A%baunty vhidi be oaed to de>
34 throoc jSbault MahuuwiL I • ^ - '
35 Digitized by Google