Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 3.djvu/142

Rh sandal wood water upon it. When it is at the hottest, he leaps into it with naked feet, crying, "Dum Madar!" (by the spirit of Madar) "Deen! Deen!" &c., and is followed by his associates, who dance about in the embers, kicking them in all directions. The Fakeers are usually liberally rewarded for such exhibitions, which are made independently to gather alms, or in pursuance of some vow by a rich person. This division of the order, especially, and all in general, sell charms, blessed at the tomb of the saint, in great numbers, which are believed to protect children against the evil eye, cure diseases, and prevent and avert malignant spiritual influences.

Some again, like the individual represented, are mendicants of a more peaceful order, who go about with a small fiddle with three strings, played with a bow, as represented in the plate. The frame or body of the instrument is of wood, over which a thin skin or parchment cover is stretched. The tone is very sweet, notwithstanding its rude appearance. Emam Buksh's chief vocation appears to be a ballad singer, to which he has retired perhaps from the more active demands of his profession. Such men sing hymns and songs in praise of Zinda Shah Madar; while details of his life and miracles are given in ballads, some of which are extremely curious, and the tunes, said to be Persian or Syrian, by no means without melody. Playing and singing these, the Jogi wanders through villages and towns, receiving flour, meal, pulse, money, or whatever is bestowed upon him, which is deposited in a wallet slung over his shoulders. Sometimes these Jogis sing in parties of three or four, accompanied by boys, when the effect is very good, as many of them have fine, sweet voices. Madar Shah devotees are inveterate wanderers, travelling again and again all over India. Sometimes their wives accompany them, but more frequently remain at home with their children. The husband returns after considerable absence, and it depends upon what he has earned how soon he must again resume his wanderings. The Madar Fakeers generally many in their own sect; indeed, bemg considered a low one, as admitting low occupations of by no means a religious character, other sects refuse to be connected mth them. They do not ordinarily diink spirits, but do not object to fermented palm juice. They are, however, devoted to the use of intoxicating drugs, whether to eat or drink—as opium and bhang—or to smoke —as ganja and tobacco; and their orgies, under the influence of this excitement, are very shameful. When they settle in old age, it is usual to find them in a small hut or cottage, under a tree near a village, or on a high road, where they keep water for travellers, and provide them with tobacco or ganja, or cook for them, for a small gratuity. Such places are frequently the resort of bad characters, who plan robberies in them, and the police have to look after them very sharply. Emam Buksh was sixty years old when his portrait was taken, and the people of his sect are usually long lived.