The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-11-20
THE ORDER OF MULLAHS
REMARKABLE WHlTE.BEARDED MEN
OF THE INDIAN FRONTIER,

|
| They Are Schoolmaster, Lawyer, Judge
and Priest All Combined, and Exer.
else Strong Influence Over the In.
habitants Of the Afghan Hills.
During the spring of 1887 accom-
panied a survey party which set out
from Peshawur to penetrate the coun-
| try north Of the Khyber, and examine
such routes as would be available in
the event of the pass being held by a
powerful enemy. During that time I
had many opportunities Of studying
the manners and methods of the Null
labs those remarkable men who are
at present using their fanatical follow
ers to drive them to revolt against the
encroachments of the Feringhees.
The visitor to the towns of the in
dependent tribes will often see VEN
cradle white-bearded old man, fol-
lowed by a crowd Of young Pathans,
who show every sign of respect for
their leader. In his right hand the
venerable figure carries a staff, and in
his left largo volume of the law &C.
oording to Mahomet. When the pro-
cession reaches a public place the
leader seats himself; his disciples
stand around or sit at his feet, and
the general public assemble at little
distance to hear the gems of wisdom
that fall from the holy mans lips, or
to roar at the worldwide "chestnuts, {"
not always Of the most decorous char
acter, which he sometimes unbends
sufficiently to tell. Such man is a
mullah, one of class who exercise an
influence over the inhabitants of the
Afghan hills so passionate and wide
that to Europeans it is beyond belief.
The Mullahs are collectively known
as the Ultima, or learned. They are
the schoolmasters, lawyers, Judges, as
we'll as the priests, many Of them be-
ing men of great ability and scholar
ship; and as they are all passionately
devoted to their order, it cannot be
said that their influence is altogether
evil. They are great peacemakers in
land where fighting is the breath of
q mans nostrils. I once saw one of
them in Lalpoorah rush between two
bodies of Mohmunds who were drawn
up to attack each other, and, by pas
Bionate prayers to them to remember
their common God and their common
country, make these desperate men
forget their purpose and go away as
quietly as frightened schoolboys.
The position of Mullah is conferred
on such candidates as have undergone
special course of study in the intri-
cate Mahometan law and successfully
passed an examination therein. The
principal part of the ceremony con-
sists of the most sanity Mullah pres
ent investing the novice with the wide
flowing gown Of white cotton and the
peculiarly shaped turban.
The Mullahs marry and live like the
laity in most particulars; though some
of them assume the most ridiculous
austerity, frowning on the simplest
amusements, and even condemning
all music except the warlike drum and
trumpet, as being effeminate. To
such men the merry fiddle or the sigh
ing lutte are as the horns of the Evil
One.
T One rich source of revenue with the
priesthood is their fine collection of
charms and incantations. It is no un-
common sight to see an ancient Afridi
or Mohmund sitting with a Mullah
and vigorously repeating charm or
performing subtle incarnation to en-
able him to fix the affections of some
fair lady who is not enamoured of his
gray hairs. -
A Mullah's most sensitive point is
the dignity Of his Office. When that
Is outraged there is trouble in the
land. He calls the brethren to coun-
Gil. They suspend all the rites of
public worship, denounce their enemy
as a dog and an infdel, cover him and
his people with their maledictions and
practically excommunicate him. If
this does not bring the unhappy man
to his senses, the Mullahs don their
sacred robes, and carrying the green
standard of the Prophet, go up and
down throughout the land proclaim
ing the Mahometan warcry, and calling
on the faithful to avenge the honor Of
the apostle Of theProphet. To those
who flock to their side they promise
eternal bliss; to those who ignore their
appeals everlasting torture. The Null
labs voice is not raised in vain. He
soon has frantic army following the
green flag, willing to go anywhere and
do anything their leader pleases.
When a Mullah dies the place of his
death becomes a sacred shrine at
which miracles are worked. There is
not a village throughout the whole
Pathan country which has not its holy
spot to which the sick, the halt and
the blind resort for relief st. James