Malcolm, _History of
Persia_,[2] ii. 341 _n_., 404; S.G.W. Benjamin, _Persia and the
Persians_, p. 198; O.J. Wills, _The Land of the Lion and the Sun_, ed.
1891, p. 48.

[26] _Nauroz mubarak_.

[27] Basant or spring feast, held at the vernal equinox.

[28] Sawan, the fourth month of the Hindu year, July-August.

[29] The feast is held in honour of the mythical Khwaja Khizr, 'the
green one', a water spirit identified with the Prophet Elisha (see
Sale on _Koran_, xviii. 63). The launching of the little boats is,
in essence, a form of magic intended to carry away the evils which
menace the community, and to secure abundant rainfall.

[30] _Ilyas ki kishti_.

[31] This is known as Hilal.

[32] The Semites, like other races, believed in the influence of the moon.
'The sun shall not strike thee by day, nor the moon by night' (Ps.
cxxi. 6). It was believed to cause blindness and epilepsy. Sir J.G.
Frazer has exhaustively discussed the question of the influence of the
moon. The harvest moon, in particular, brings fertility, and hears the
prayers of women in travail: the moon causes growth and decay, and she
is dangerous to children. Many practical rules are based on her
influence at the various phases (_The Golden Bough_[3] Part I, vol. ii,
p. 128; Part IV, vol. ii, p. 132 ff.).

[33] 'The sixth house is Scorpio, which is that of slaves and servants,
and of diseases' (Abul Fazl, _Akbarnama_, tr. H. Beveridge, ii. 12).

[34] Here the moon is supposed to exert a curative influence.

[35] Hindus believe that during an eclipse the moon is being strangled by
a demon, Rahu. Cries are raised, drums and brazen pans are beaten
to scare him.

[36] Properly the Mu'azzin or official summoner to prayer.

[37] _Allahu akbar_.

[38] All offerings of intercession or thanksgivings are denominated sutkah
[_Author_] (_sadaqah_, see p. 136).

[39] Lime liniment, composed of equal parts of lime-water and a bland oil,
is recognized in surgical practice.

[40] _Shab-i-bara'at_, 'the night of record', is a feast held on the
15th of the month Sha'ban, when a vigil is kept, with prayers and
illuminations. On this occasion service in memory of the deceased
ancestors of the family is performed. On this night the fortunes of
mortals during the coming year are said to be recorded in Heaven. See
p. 51.

[41] Al-Fatihah, 'the opening one',