nd two small white marble ones by its side. The
entrance in this case was to the east with a stone slab across it which
was raised when entering the Mesjid.

One Mesjid, or more, are generally to be found near burial places.
Occasionally I have seen large square or rectangular ones, but they are
not quite so common as those of a rounded shape. In some cases the Mesjid
consists of a mere semicircle facing towards the west.

The Beluch, as every one knows, is a Suni Mussulman and nourishes a
hatred for the Shia sect, but although very observant of certain rites
pertaining to the religion of Mahommed, the Beluch is not bigoted in
religious matters, and this is probably due to the fact that _mullahs_,
_saiyads_, _fakirs_ or other such religious officials and fanatics are
seldom to be encountered among the Beluch in Northern Beluchistan.

Far south in Makran matters are different; the people are more fanatical,
and several religious sects, such as the _Rafais_--a sect which proves
its faith in the prophet by self-inflicted tortures--the _Khwajah_ and
the _Zikris_ are found, as well as the "_Biadhiah_," who are despised as
heretics by both Suni and Shia Mussulmans, and who fully reciprocate the
hatred. Unlike other true Mussulmans, these Biadhiahs indulge in
intoxicants and are very slack in religious observances.

But the Brahuis--with whom I mostly came in contact in the
North--although not very strict, are certainly most reverent and
generally not intemperate. They have no actual mosques wherein to go and
pray, but worship in the improvised Mesjids which I have described. In
fact, the word _Mesjid_ merely means "a place of worship."

Superstition is generally rampant in people leading a somewhat wild life
of adventure. Some of the legends of the good and evil _gins_, or spirits
and _peris_, fairies, are very quaint. The belief in the magic power of
spells and charms is also deeply rooted.

Captain Webb-Ware told me two rather amusing instances of superstition.
One day he was out stalking in the hills near Dalbandin, when he came
across a snake (_ekis carinata_). The Beluch shikars who were with him
refused to go on and sat down for half an hour waiting for the evil
influences--of which the snake was a palpable symbol--to vanish.

On another occasion one of his men dropped his knife--a knife which, by
the way, he had found on the road. The Beluch got off his camel and
stalked the knife as it lay on the ground, and whe