Storia do Mogor 74: Of the Holy Mendicants.
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 74
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Of the Holy Mendicants.
74.1
The greatest abuse there was, and still is, in the Mogul kingdom is due to the cheating and hypocrisy of the holy mendicants. These men call themselves Sahedes (Sayyid), descendants of Muhammad, and deceive the people with hypocrisy and pretended miracles, so that many resort to them as saints, either to ask for sons, or to obtain wives or husbands. Others go to secure, through their intercession, employment or places at court; others, that some man or woman may fall in love with them; others, to win victory over their enemies or to gain success in business; each man according to his need. No one goes to such-like men with empty hands, but always with something as an offering. Thus these holy men live in luxury. They know how to cover their impostures by deception, and with the aid of the devil hold the people under their spells by written incantations and bonds. Above all, they have control of the women, who resort to them in large numbers. They know how to make use of their opportunities, sparing neither Mahomedan, Hindu, nor Christian women, if they are good-looking. In addition, they have numerous wives and slave girls in their houses, whom they send out at night in all directions [8] as pretended devotees to earn an illicit livelihood, or to act as go-betweens to bring to the house of their master any woman that he desires. This is done under a covering of religion.
74.2
These women also serve to find out about those who come to ask for any favour, and whether or not they have obtained what they desired. This is done to obtain information beforehand. These women also serve to make excuses if any suppliants have not obtained their desires, or to persuade people that the holy man's supplications are specially effective; also to find out what is going on, and thus give their master occasion to reveal secrets, as is fitting to holy men who know hidden things. In fine, the devices are not to be counted of which they make use to establish the reputation of saints; and if they perform any deed worthy of admiration, it is all the work of the devil. When they leave their houses they never go on foot, but in a carriage or on horseback, at the same time taking with them down to their scullion-boys, to demonstrate the number of their disciples and devotees. They carry themselves humbly, so that in the streets many passers-by, men and women, prostrate themselves on the ground and call to them with lifted hands, as if to a just and saintly man. On these occasions each prays for what he wants, whether health, or delivery from demons, calling out according to his necessity. But the hypocrite, with a severe mien, goes on his way, making signs with his hands as of one who gives good hope to all, and takes on himself to satisfy every one. Thus they return to their houses.
74.3
These are sufficiently commodious, with a special apartment for the women and another for receiving visitors. Among others is a fairly handsome room, where are drawers, such as worn by Mahomedan women, and a chemise, the whole placed upon a rope. If any Hindu woman turns up, after hearing her requests, should her face please him the make-believe saint retires as if going to prayers. Then, taking some provocative drug (of which they have no lack), he comes back and orders the woman to remove her shirt. Ordinarily they do this at once, out of the esteem in which they hold these accursed men, under the supposition that they are receiving a great favour. Promises are made of securing what they want. If at times a woman, being of an honourable degree, is hurt at such an extraordinary proposal put forward by the holy man, the latter falls into a rage, saying that she is a woman with an evil conscience, that he never told her to take off her shirt, but to bring the one hanging on the rope, in order to give her some letters or some other thing lying in the pocket thereof, as a means of obtaining her desire. Then he bundles her out with abuse, as if it had never entered his mind to do her any wrong. Thus the woman withdraws in great confusion, for two reasons: because she has put a wrong interpretation upon the words of the holy man, and because, through her own fault, she did not obtain the remedy she wanted and hoped for.
74.4
The same thing is done with Mahomedan and Christian women, who wear drawers. It is to this intent that they keep a shirt and a pair of drawers on a rope, in order to cover the equivocal proposals they make to women. It often happens that the woman who was scandalized the first time falls a second time into the trap, either through eagerness to get rid of her trouble, or because of the devotee women. These go to the house of any woman who had left without consenting to the perverted desires of the holy man. Opening a conversation, they dilate on the holiness of their master, and lead her to expect all sorts of benefits to be obtained by going to the holy man. I cannot write the filthiness of such men, and all I shall say will be very little, not to fall into the error spoken of by St. Paul : Corrumpunt bonos mores eloquia prava. Still, the insolence and outrages of these deceivers are sufficiently exposed. There are numbers of them, also of women, who, under the name of sanctity, practise similar impostures. All the same, the populace in the Mogul realm, and also the nobles, retain great esteem for these people, sending them valuable presents ; even gardeners carry to them the best of their fruit and vegetables, and goat-herds their kids and milk. Thus do these villains lead a more luxurious life than any grandee, being at the same time obeyed by princes and governors.