Then comes Dhull Dhull,[7]—­the name of Hosein’s horse at Kraabaallah;—­that selected for the present purpose is a handsome white Arab, caparisoned according to the olden style of Arabia:  due care is taken to represent the probable sufferings of both animal and rider, by the bloody horsecloth—­the red-stained legs—­and the arrows apparently sticking in several parts of his body; on the saddle is fixed a turban in the Arabian style, with the bow and arrows;—­the bridle, &c. are of very rich embroidery; the stirrups and mountings of solid silver.  The horse and all its attire are given after Mahurrum, in charity, to a poor Syaad.  Footmen, with the afthaadah[8] and chowrie[9]—­peculiar emblems of royalty in India—­attend Dhull Dhull.  The friends of the family walk near the horse; then servants of all classes, to fill up the parade, and many foot-soldiers, who occasionally fire singly, giving to the whole description a military effect.

I have seen many other processions on these fifth days of Mahurrum—­they all partake of one style,—­some more splendid than others; and the very poor people parade their banners, with, perhaps, no other accompaniment than a single drum and fife, and the owner supporting his own banner.

My next letter will contain the procession of Mayndhie, which forms a grand feature of Mahurrum display on the seventh night.

P.S.—­The Najoomee are men generally with some learning, who, for their supposed skill in astrology, have, in all ages since Mahumud’s death, been more or less courted and venerated by the Mussulmaun people;—­I should say, with those who have not the fear of God stronger in their hearts than the love of the world and its vanities;—­the really religious people discountenance the whole system and pretended art of the astrologer.

It is wonderful the influence a Najoom acquires in the houses of many great men in India;—­wherever one of these idlers is entertained he is the oracle to be consulted on all occasions, whether the required solution be of the utmost importance, or the merest trifling subject.  I know those who submit, with a childlike docility, to the Najoom’s opinion, when their better reason, if allowed to sway, would decide against the astrologer’s prediction.  If Najoom says it is not proper for Nuwaub Sahib, or his Begum, to eat, to drink, to sleep, to take medicine, to go from home, to give away or accept a gift, or any other action which human reason is the best guide to decide upon, Najoom has said it,—­and Najoom must be right.  Najoom can make peace or war, in the family he overrules, at his pleasure; and many are the houses divided against themselves by the wicked influence of a bad man, thus exercising his crafty wiles over the weakness of his credulous master.—­So much for Najoomee; and now for my second notice of the Eunuchs:—­[10]