Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review Volumes 32 and 33.djvu/435

Rh may be—and to our Hindu citizens that true truth about Islam in India should be presented—as here—scientifically and impartially. Not all those who ought to read this book will get it—more's the pity. The journalist who "enlightens public opinion," the politician who "guides the destinies of the Empire," ought to know the real living mainsprings of the religious life of these important communities of Islamic origin.

We have libraries of learned tomes on Hinduism—that mode of "Animism tempered by Philosophy," which leave us in no doubt as to the sources from which are drawn the materials, fashioned and manipulated by the sage and philosopher, to become the glory and splendour of the "Higher Culture."

What would the "Great Arabian" say to all this welter of savage customs and superstitions, would he scourge the Pīrs with his camel whip, would he tolerate the commerce with the powers of darkness, in derogation from the might and majesty of Allāh the One God? It is, indeed, a wonderful picture presented here—true—well told. Substantiated and of peculiar interest to the Folk-lore Society as showing the effects produced by various cultural elements in varying "doses," administered by various hands with various methods.

What our science owes to Dr. Crooke cannot well be stated, but from the depths of his learning and his unrivalled knowledge of the conditions of the Lower Culture of India he has added so much that is new, yet true, to the original work of Ja‘far Sharīf that we have for the first time a real account of Islam as it is to-day in India generally. As so often in Indian literature, the commentator has overshadowed his original author—Pīr Saheb-Salaam. Allāh is great, but the Pīr is near. Thanks to Ja‘far Sharīf, gratitude (and hoping for further favours) to Dr. Crooke.

this little book M. Nourry, writing under his accustomed nom-de-plume of P. Saintyves, has collected and compiled a