path near me. He
has done me some little service, and I am mindful of him.'

'You must be mindful of yourself,' said an old mollah, who sat next to
me. 'Whatever is thief, whatever is knave, you will be sure to find it
among these ajems.'

'Yes,' said the mushtehed, as he rested both his hands upon his girdle,
whilst his disciples (who knew this to be his favourite attitude
when about to make a speech) settled their faces into looks of
attention--'yes, these, and all who call themselves dervishes, be
they the followers of _Nur Ali Shahi_, be they _Zahabias_, be they
_Nakshbendies_, or be they of that accursed race of _Uweisies_; all are
kafirs or heretics--all are worthy of death. The one promulgate, that
the fastings of the Ramazan, our ablutions, the forms and number of our
daily prayers, are all unnecessary to salvation; and that the heart
is the test of piety, and not the ceremonies of the body. The other
acknowledge the Koran, 'tis true; but they reject everything else: the
sayings of the Prophet, opinions of saints, etc. are odious to them;
and they show their religious zeal by shouting out the blessed name of
Allah, until they foam at the mouth, like so many roaring lions; and
this they are pleased to call religion. Another set pretend to superior
piety, by disfiguring the outward man, making vows, and performing acts
of penance, that partake more of the tricks of mountebanks than of the
servants of the Almighty. The fourth, the most heretical of all, would
make us believe that they live in eternal communion with supernatural
powers; and whilst they put on a patched and threadbare garment,
affect to despise the goods of this world, and keep themselves warm
by metaphysical meditations, which neither they nor any one else
understand. No distinction of clean or unclean (may they enjoy the
eternal grills!) stands in their way; lawful and unlawful is all one to
them; they eat and drink whatever they choose, and even the Giaours,
the infidels, are undefiled in their sight. And these call themselves
Sufies; these are your wise men; these are your lights of the world!
Curses on their beard!' To which all the company answered 'ameen,' or
amen. Curses on their fathers and mothers! Curses on their children!
Curses on their relations! Curses on Sheikh Attar! Curses on Jelaledin
Rumi!'[82] After each curse the whole assembly echoed 'Ameen!'

When he had concluded, all the company, whilst they expressed their
admiration at