1 ' OONDITIGN jW THK FAXEERS OR VILLAINS. 345
2 Fakeer is subject to die penai on whoM land Jbe residet, wlio it
3 called his Khawund, or master. He pays a tax to his iiiaitcf» and is
4 also obliged to work for him gratis, like the villains id Europe. The
5 master can also beat, or evea kill his Fakeer» ^rithout bdi^ ji]iiefH
6 tioncd for it On the other hand, the Fakeer is sure of zealous pro-
7 tection from his mastor, who wouici enter into the most desperate
8 .quarrel latlier than suttbr another persou to injure his Fakeer. The
9 Fakeer is at liberty to pursue any trade, to work as a labourer for his
10 own profit, and even to rent lund a Buzgur or Metaver ; his mas-
11 ter having no demand on lum hut lor his estahhstied tiix, some fixed
12 dues, which will be mentioned hereailer, and a share ot his labour.
13 The treatment the Fakeers receive from their masters, is gem rallv
14 mild. The master is deterred from aeveiity, by the disgrace which
15 attaclie.s to oppression, arul still more by the right of the Fakeer to
16 jremove to the laacis oi' another Eusoizvu , a right which he can al-
17 ways exercise, as tliere is a great competition for Fakecrs, and many
18 men will always be found ready to receive and protect one who is
19 disposed^ to change hb master. The number of indqieadent copp
20 munities is also a proteti;km to theFakeers; as ona of them who
21 had received any mortal injury (as the tunider of hia idatM% or dbe
22 ■ednctldii of his wife), could ze?enge himaeif bj the death of hia op-
23 |ifCiMr» and then aeoure hunaelf by flying inio tfie ooantiyof another
24 Ooloofa.
25 The nunten hanre not the power of estoituig money fioan dieir
26 .Faheeia. Ihcj levy finea:OB theaetdement of .a new Fakeer bi.their
27 .hoidat and on. the morrii^ of thev Fakeen» and alao aa a pvnuhp
28 .ment-fer mutdera and. other crimea; but. the amount, like that of the
29 tax, ia fixed hy cnitom, and it would be ledconed grosa oppreaaum
30 to levy.moie than waa. due^ ' The Fakeera have their quarrela and
31 .iSbrnt Hff?ftdthfiU aa w^U aa the Eusofzyes, hut in. a far less degree.
32 Ihey are nideed an hnmUe and unwarlifce people, and aeldom cany
33 «ina, thm^ they are not forbidd^ to do so. Their houses are
34 .l^aacraDy worse, and their dreea ia plainer than that of the A%hauns.
35 Ihey aie all ficiiiflal».md.aften amaia eoaiiderabie auma by the profits
36 T.T .
37 Digitized by Google