Travels in India (Tavernier) 154.7

154.7

There was one of these Fakirs who returned from Mecca in the year 1642, and having landed at Suwali he forthwith showed signs of diabolical fury. He had no sooner said his prayers than he took his dagger and ran to attack some Dutch sailors, who were on shore discharging goods from four vessels which were in the port. Before they saw him and were able to put themselves on their defence, this maddened Fakir wounded seventeen, of whom thirteen died. The khanjar which he had was a kind of dagger, the upper part of the blade of which was three fingers wide, and as it is a very dangerous weapon I give the figure of it here. At length the Dutch soldier who was on guard at the entrance to the tent where the Commander and the merchants were, gave this madman a shot from a gun through the body, of which he fell dead. Forthwith all the other Fakirs who were in the place, and even the other Muhammadans, carried off the body and interred it, and at the end of fifteen days a handsome tomb had been built (over it). It is broken each year by the English and Dutch sailors when their vessels are in port, because they are then strong ; but as soon as they have departed the Muhammadans have it rebuilt and place about it many standards. Some also say their prayers at it.