trade, and flourished in the tima of Shir Shah, the Cromwell of Indian liistor\% There are, however, vari- ous and contradictory traditions relative to our humble ])hilosophcr, as some accounts bring him down to the time of Akbar. All, however, agree as to his being a Sflpu, or Deist, of the most exalted sentiments and of the most unbounded benevolence. He reprobated with severity the religious intolerance and worship of both Hindus and JIussulmans, in such a pleasing poetic strain of rustic wit, humor, and sound reasoning, that to this day both nations contend for the honor of his birth in their respective sects or tribes. He published a book of po- ems that are still universally esteemed, as they inculcate the purest morality and the greatest good-will and hos- pitality to all the children of man. From the disinter- ested yet alluring doctrines they contain, a sect has sprung up in Hindostan under the name of Kubier- punt-hi, who are so universally esteemed for veracity and other virtues, among both Hindus and Mussulmans, that they may be with propriety considered the Quakers of that hemisphere. They resemble that respectable body in the neatness of their dress and simplicity of their manners, which are neither strictly Jlohammedan nor Hindu, being rather a mixture of the best parts of both. The Bazugurs conceive that one spirit pervades all nature ; and that their soul, being a particle of that universal spirit, will of course rejoin it when released from its corporeal shackles. At all their feasts — which are as frequent as their means will admit — men, women, and children drink to excess. Litjuor with them is the suramum bonum of life; every crime may be expiated by plentiful libations of strong drink. Though profess- ing Islamism, they employ a Brahman, who is supposed to be an adept in astrology, to tix upon a name for their children, whom they permit to remain at the breast till five or six years of age. It is no uncommon thing to see four or tive miserable infants clinging round their mother, and struggling for their scanty portion of nour- ishment, the whole of which, if we might judge from the appearance of the woman, would hardly suffice for one. This practice, with the violent exercise which they are taught in their youth, and the excessive and habitual indulgence in drinking intoxicating liquors, must greatly curtail the lives of these wretched females. Their marriages are generally deferred to a later period than is usual in their climate, in consequence of a daugh- ter being considered as productive property to the par- ents by her professional abilities. The girls, who are merely taught to dance and sing, like the common Sheh or Nautch girls of Hindostan, have no restrictions on their moral conduct as females; but the chastity of those damsels Avhose peculiar department is tumbling is strictly enjoined, until their stations can be supplied by younger ones trained up in the same line ; and when these come forward, the older performers are permitted to join the men dancers, and from among them the men, though aware or at least suspicious of their incontinence, select a wife. After the matrimonial ceremony is over, they no longer exhibit as public dancers. A total change of conduct is now looked for, and generally, I believe, en- sues. To reconcile this in some manner to our belief, it may be necessary to mention that, contrary' to the pre- vailing [)ractice in India, the lady is allowed the privilege of judging for herself, nor are any preparations for tlie marriage thought of till her assent has been given, in cases where no previous choice has been made. There are in and about the environs of Calcutta five sets of these people, each consisting of from twenty to thirty, exclusive of children. There is a siirdur to each set, one of whom is considered as the chief, or nadar biitah, at this station. The peojile of each set are, like our actors, hired by the surdur or manager of a company for a cer- tain period, generally one year, after which they are at liberty to join any other party. No person can estab- •lish a set without the sanction of the nadar bfttah, who, I believe, receives a chilt (tribute or small por- tion) of the profits, besides a tax of two rupees, which is
levied on the girls of each set as often as they may have attracted the notice of persons not of their own caste. This, from their mode of life, must be a tolerably pro- ductive duty. When the parties return from their ex- cursions, this money is paid to the nadar butah, who convenes his people, and they continue eating and drinking tUl the whole is expended. AVhen any of the surdurs are suspected of giving in an unfair statement of their profits, a pimchu'et is assembled, before whom the supposed culprit is ordered to undergo a fierj- ordeal, by applying his tongue to a piece of red-hot iron ; if it burns him, he is declared guilty. A fine, always con- sisting of liquor, is imposed. If the liquor be not im- mediately produced, the delinquent is banisheil from their society, hooted and execrated wherever he comes; his very wife and children avoid him. Thus oppressed, he soon becomes a suppliant to the nadar biitah. Some of the women of the Bazugurs are, I have heard, ex- tremely handsome, and esteemed as courtesans in the East accordingly ; though I must confess I have not seen any who, in my opinion, came under that descrip- tion as to personal charms."