Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/283

Rh Singli, Zálim Singh, and Mittar Sain; an accountant and factor (patwárí), named Amánat Rái; and a schoolmaster, named Bidyá Dhar. All these worthies were honest as the day, and things went smoothly. Udat Singh and Amánat Rái died in the course of time, and were succeeded by Chandar Rám and Bhawáni respectively, and then things began to go wrong. Chandar Rám corrupted the hitherto honest Zálim Singh, and these two, with the help of Bhawáni, the accountant, set to work to rob the villagers; and, being successful in this, they went so far as to oust from his ancient homestead a tenant with proprietary right (mazára’ maurúsí), by name Bhawáni, by means of forged documents.

Balál, the black slave of one ’Umia, an idolater of Makka (Mecca), was smitten by the teachings of Muhammad, whereon ’Umia, his master, began to torture and ill-treat him. Abúbakr (the first Khalífa, or Successor to the Prophet) heard of this, and exchanged a black slave for Balál with his master, and freed him. Balál was then appointed muazzin (or caller to prayer) to the mosque at Madína. After the Prophet's death Balál went to Syria, where he dwelt for six months, when he saw the Prophet in a dream telling him to return to Madína, which he did, and there he died. After the Prophet's death he could never make the azán, or call to prayer, as he fell senseless on repeating the Prophet's name.

The work insists very strongly on the uselessness of devotion to the world, and the importance of fixing the thoughts on devotion to