'A Dictionary, Persian, Arabic, and English; with a Dissertation on the Languages, Literature, and Manners of Eastern Nations' [‎39v] (83/1826)

Ixii
dissertation.
removed them to another country, they divided
them into small troops of ten or twelve ; each of
which furnishes one, as a hostage for the good
behaviour of the rest. A similar custom prevailed
of old among the Germans. 114
Amidst all the vices and dangerous qualities of
the Arabians, Persians, and Tartars, they have
been ever distinguished for generosity and hospi
tality. Particular details would be endless ; they
are to be found in almost every author who has
touched upon the history of those people. I shall
only observe, in addition to those accounts, that
there is hardly a word in the Arabic and Persian
languages which signifies avarice, that does not
also imply cowardice, baseness, slavery, or villainy.
The Arabians have even a proverb, that no miser
was ever brave, but the Caliph Abdalla bin
Zubayr. So high is their idea of the rights of
hospitality, that if the murderer of their dearest
friends had, even by chance, eaten or drunk under
their roof, that alone cancelled every former
crime j and they were bound not only to forgive,
but to protect him. The wretch who had betray
ed the man whose bread he had eaten, was justly
stamped with the deepest infamy; a bread and
salt-traitor being one of the most opprobrious
epithets by which one Asiatic would express his
detestation of another.—Their veneration for salt
is indeed extraordinary. A robber having one
night broke into the palace of the king of Sijistan;
and happening, whilst he was making off with his
rich booty, to tread upon a stone, which he con
ceived to be a jewel that had escaped his observa
tion in the dark, he picked it up; and putting it
to his mouth, to be satisfied of the truth, he found
it to be salt. I his accidental circumstance
opeiated so foicibly, even with this loose-prin
cipled man, that he then considered his robbery as
a violation of the rights of hospitality, and retired
immediately home without his plunder. This
famous robber became afterwards king of Sijistan,
and founder of the dynasty of the Soffarides.—A
custom subsists to this day in India among the
Gentus, of tasting salt, together with other cere
monies, when dividing property among partners,
or the heirs of a person deceased. 115
Amongst other laws and usages, similar to those
of the Northern nations, we find that the trial by
ordeal was anciently known in Persia, and it ori
ginated, perhaps, from their superstitious venera
tion for fire. After exalting that element to the
rank of a divinity, we cannot wonder that they
should resort to it, for evidence, in points which
could not admit of positive proof. In the Shah
namah we find the description of an illustrious
trial, by the ordeal, above five hundred years
before the Christian era. - Siawakhsh, son of the
reigning king Kay Kawus, had been educated in
Sijistan by the great Rustam. His father, hear-
ing much of his accomplishments, sent for him to
court, where Sawdabah, his mother-in-law, fell in
love with him : she soon made a declaration; but
the prince discouraging her advances, she flew in
a rage to the king, and accused him of an attempt
upon her honour. The prince protested his inno
cence ; but the queen persisted, and demanded
justice. The king knew not how r to decide ; the
nature of the case could not admit of proof: he
ordered, therefore, a large fire to be kindled, and
the parties to pass through it. The prince, without
hesitation, boldly entered it on horseback, and
passed unhurt; but Sawdabah trembled, and durst
not venture : she fell on her knees, confessed the
tiuth, and was pardoned on the generous interces
sion of the man she meant to destroy The trial
by ordeal, where satisfactory evidence cannot be
obtained, is still in practice among the Gentus in
Hindustan, and is of high antiquity. It is men
tioned several times in the Code ofGentu Laws, as
a common mode of proof, under the title of Pa-
rikhyd: but I have not been able to discover the
particular species which they adopt. 116
I he administration of justice in Pagan Arabia
appears to have been very simple ; the heads of
the tribes^ being, in general, the umpires of every
difference. Solemn oaths used to be taken over a
file called hawlat; into which, if they suspected a
witness of perjury, they privately threw a species