For many years this genuine Heir and successor of the Viex de la Montaingne has had his headquarters at Bombay, where he devotes, or for a long time did devote, the large income that he receives from the faithful to the maintenance of a racing stable, being the chief patron and promoter of the Bombay Turf!

A schism among the Khojas, owing apparently to the desire of part of the well-to-do Bombay community to sever themselves from the peculiarities of the sect and to set up as respectable Sunnis, led in 1866 to an action in the High Court, the object of which was to exclude Agha Khan from all rights over the Khojas, and to transfer the property of the community to the charge of Orthodox Mahomedans.  To the elaborate addresses of Mr. Howard and Sir Joseph Arnould, on this most singular process before an English Court, I owe the preceding particulars.  The judgment was entirely in favour of the Old Man of the Mountain.

[Illustration:  H. H. Agha Khan Mehelati, late Representative of the Old Man of the Mountain.

“Le Seigneur Viel, que je vous ai dit si tient sa court ... et fait a croire a cele simple gent qui li est entour que il est un grant prophete.”]

[Sir Bartle Frere writes of Agha Khan in 1875:  “Like his ancestor, the Old One of Marco Polo’s time, he keeps his court in grand and noble style.  His sons, popularly known as ‘The Persian Princes,’ are active sportsmen, and age has not dulled the Agha’s enjoyment of horse-racing.  Some of the best blood of Arabia is always to be found in his stables.  He spares no expense on his racers, and no prejudice of religion or race prevents his availing himself of the science and skill of an English trainer or jockey when the races come round.  If tidings of war or threatened disturbance should arise from Central Asia or Persia, the Agha is always one of the first to hear of it, and seldom fails to pay a visit to the Governor or to some old friend high in office to hear the news and offer the services of a tried sword and an experienced leader to the Government which has so long secured him a quiet refuge for his old age.”  Agha Khan died in April, 1881, at the age of 81.  He was succeeded by his son Agha Ali Shah, one of the members of the Legislative Council. (See The Homeward Mail, Overland Times of India, of 14th April, 1881.)]

The Bohras of Western India are identified with the Imami-Ismailis in some books, and were so spoken of in the first edition of this work.  This is, however, an error, originally due, it would seem, to Sir John Malcolm.  The nature of their doctrine, indeed, seems to be very much alike, and the Bohras, like the Ismailis, attach a divine character to their Mullah or chief pontiff, and make a pilgrimage to his presence once in life.  But the persons so reverenced are quite different; and the Bohras recognise all the 12 Imams of ordinary Shiahs.  Their first appearance in India was early, the date which they assign being A.H. 532 (A.D. 1137-1138).  Their chief seat was in Yemen, from which a large emigration to India took place on its conquest by the Turks in 1538.  Ibn Batuta seems to have met with Bohras at Gandar, near Baroch, in 1342. (Voyages, IV. 58.)