Storia do Mogor 60.7.2

60.7.2

They are so contumacious and insolent that sometimes they are not satisfied with what they get, and it is necessary to give them all they demand. Never do they beg you to give for the love of God, imagining they would anger God by asking alms in His name, alms being such a petty thing in comparison with the greatness of God. Everyone tries to find a means of satisfying them without showing any hesitation, for fear of some curse. In addition, the people of Hindustan are very kindly and compassionate. The beters (be-tars) are faqīrs who ask for alms with a sharp knife in their hand. They place themselves in front of a shop, and begin to shout for alms to be given them, pointing at what they want. When the shopkeeper refuses to give a man what he asks for, he wounds himself on the arms or on the head or on the legs, and, taking the blood, throws it into the shop as a sign of his curse. Ordinarily these faqīrs ask for alms at the shops of the baniyas, who are very timid, and rather than see such wounds, give them what they ask, usually some money.