The learned men call it a zeenahnah, or children’s custom; but it is common to see children of all ages amongst the males, partake of, and enjoy the festival with as much glee as the females or their juniors.

A bamboo frame is formed to the shape of a Chinese boat:  this frame-work is hidden by a covering of gold and silver tissue, silk, or coloured muslin, bordered and neatly ornamented with silver paper.  In this light bark many lamps are secreted, of common earthenware.  A procession is formed to convey the tribute, called ‘Elias ky Kishtee[30]’, to the river.  The servants of the family, soldiers, and a band of Native music attend in due order of march:  the crowd attracted by this childish play is immense, increasing as they advance through the several streets on the way to the river, by all the idlers of the place.

The kishtee (boat) is launched amidst a flourish of trumpets and drums, and the shouts of the populace; the small vessel, being first well lighted, by means of the secreted lamps, moves down gently with the stream.  When at a little distance, on a broad river, in the stillness of evening, any one—­who did not previously know how these little moving bodies of light were produced—­might fancy such fairy scenes as are to be met with in the well-told fables of children’s books in happy England.

This custom, though strongly partaking of the superstitious, is not so blameable as that which I have known practised by some men of esteemed good understanding, who having a particular object in view, which they cannot attain by any human stratagem or contrivance, write petitions to the Emaum Mhidhie on Fridays, and by their own hands commit the paper to the river, with as much reverence as if they thought him present in the water to receive it.  The petition is always written in the same respectful terms, as inferiors here well know how to address their superiors; and every succeeding Friday the petition is repeated until the object is accomplished, or the petitioner has no further inducement to offer one.

I have made particular inquiries whether such sensible people (as I have seen thus engaged) placed any dependence on this mode of petitioning.  The only answer I have received, is, ’Those who think proper thus to petition, certainly believe that it will be effectual, if they persevere in it.’

The New Moon is a festival in the family of every good Mussulmaun.[31] They date the new moon from the evening it first become visible, and not as we do—­from the moment it changes.  The event is announced in Native cities by firing salutes from the field-pieces of Kings, Nuwaubs, &c.