e
he could converse with his merciful Creator and Protector uninterrupted by
the strife of tongues.'

[1] _Hudhud_, the lapwing, hoopoe. In the Koran (xxvii. 20, with Sale's
note) the bird is described as carrying a letter from Solomon to the
Queen of Sheba. On another occasion, when Solomon was lost in the
desert, he sent it to procure for him water for ablution.

[2] The term _sufi_, derived from _suf_, 'wool', in allusion to
the garments worn by them, was applied in the second century of Islam
to men or women who adopted the ascetic or quietistic way of life. See
Hughes, _Dictionary of Islam_, 608 ff.: D.B. Macdonald, _The
Development of Muslim Theology_, 1903: E.G. Browne, _A Year Amongst
the Persians_, 1893.

[3] If a Sufi becomes, by devotion, attracted to God, he is called
_Salik-i-majzub_, 'an attracted devotee': if he practises
complete devotion, but is not influenced by the special attraction of
God, he is called _Salik_, 'a devotee' (Hughes, _Dictionary of
Islam_, 612: Jaffur Shurreef, _Qanoon-e-Islam_, 197).

[4] See p. 255.

[5] See p. 255.

[6] Gulistan.

LETTER XXIV

The Soofies continued.--Eloy Bauxh.--Assembly of Saalik
Soofies.--Singular exhibition of their zeal.--Mystery of Soofeism.--The
terms Soofie and Durweish explained.--Anecdote of Shah Sherif.--Shah
Jee and the Paltaan.--Dialogue on death between Shah Jee and his
wife.--Exemplary life of his grandson.--Anecdote of a Mussulmaun
lady.--Reflections on modern Hindoos.--Anecdotes of Shah ood Dowlah
and Meer Nizaam...Page 348

My last Letter introduced the Soofies to your notice, the present shall
convey a further account of some of these remarkable characters who have
obtained so great celebrity among the Mussulmauns of India, as to form the
subjects of daily conversation. I have heard some rigid Mussulmauns
declare they discredit the mysterious knowledge a Soofie is said to
possess, yet the same persons confess themselves staggered by the singular
circumstances attending the practice of Soofies living in their vicinity,
which they have either witnessed or heard related by men whose veracity
they cannot doubt; amongst the number I may quote an intimate acquaintance
of my husband's, a very venerable Syaad of Lucknow, who relates an
anecdote of Saalik Soofies, which I will here introduce.

'Meer Eloy Bauxh,[1] a Mussulmaun of distinguished piety, who has devoted
a lo