تحفة النظار في غرايب الامصار وعجايب الاسفار 7.3.1

7.3.1

We journeyed thereafter to Galyiir or Guyalyur [Gwalior], a large town with an impregnable fortress isolated on the summit of a lofty hill. Over its gate is an elephant with its mahout carved in stone. The governor of this town was a man of upright character, and he treated me very honourably when I stayed with him on a previous occasion. One day I came before him as he was about to have an infidel cut in two. I said to him “By God I beseech you, do not do this, for I have never seen anyone put to death in my presence.” He ordered the man to be put in prison so my intervention was the means of his escape. From Galyur we went to Parwan, a small town belonging to the Muslims, but situated in the land of the infidels. There are many tigers there, and one of the inhabitants told me that a certain tiger used to enter the town by night, although the gates were shut, and used to seize people. It killed quite a number of the townsfolk in this way. They used to wonder how it made its way in. Here is an amazing thing; a man told me that it was not a tiger who did this but a human being, one of the magicians known as Jugis [Yogis], appearing in the shape of a tiger. When I heard this I refused to believe it, but a number of people said the same, so let us give at this point some account of these magicians. The men of this class do some marvellous things.