'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎279] (388/496)

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secluded summits of the highest ranges on either hand. The Ali IIaids,
as well as the Ancyrians, when sojourning in Mahomedan cities, outwardly
conform to the ceremonies of the established faith. They also adopt the
deportment and dress of their Mahomedan rulers, so as not to excite the
prejudices of the fanatic people.* I have, however, heard both parties
regret the necessity that compelled them to resort to the deception, and
have even seen the former mimic the devotional prostrations of the
“ true believer.”
The Ali Ilahi, though generally congregated on and around the higher
parts of the Zagros, sometimes descend, in the winter, to the more genial
climate of the neighbouring plains. A few scattered families were also
met with by Major Rawlinson in Luristan, but, I believe, the Glurans
seldom venture into the more northern districts beyond Zohab.f
Whatever the religious code of the Guran may be, it is evident that
his moral one is not of a very high order, and that the precepts inculcated
in the Persian youth during the age of the greater Cyrus have been
either forgotten or perverted in the lapse of ages. The art of drawing
* The Ali Ilahi, when in their own villages, if we may judge by their acts, do
not deny themselves the use of wine or spirits, nor do they abstain from the pro
hibited food of the Koran; on the contrary, they indulge freely both in swine’s
flesh and intoxicating liquors.
The features of the Ali Ilahi, as well as of the adjoining tribe of Calhur, cer
tainly display a Jewish cast, and warrant the supposition of their Jewish origin; and
their own traditions and Judaical doctrines tend to strengthen the inference. If
not, therefore, of a Babylonian stock, we must view them as a remnant of the Sa-r
maritan captivity. Asiatic history abounds in instances of the depopulation of con
quered towns by victorious monarchs, and in the substitution of other races for
the primitive occupants, in order to maintain a peaceful possession of the newly ac
quired country. See Heeren on the Constitution of the Medo-Persian Empire,
Chap. II., page 4. Scripture History also furnishes us with many examples of
such transactions, particularly when Shalmaneser, King of Assyria, (2d Kings,
Chap. XVII., v. 24,) took men from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Amath, and Seporvaim,
and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the Jewish captives that he
removed into Assyria. In verse 6 of the same chapter it expressly states that he
placed them in Halah and Habor. The former has been already identified with
the modern Holwan, (R. G. Journal, Vol. IX., Part I., page 35) and the Calah of
remote antiquity, and there is little room left to doubt but that both the Ali
Ilahi Gurans and the large tribe of Calhur are the descendants of the Samari
tan captives. The retention of their religion and mysterious usages, will corres
pond well with the anathemas launched against them by Moses in Deuteronomy,
Chap. XXVIII., v. 36-37, where it says, The Lord shall bring thee, and the
King which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which thou, neither thy fathers,
have known, and there shalt thou serve other Gods, wood and stone, and thou shalt
become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byeword, among all nations whither the
Lord shall lead thee. J, See also Levit. 26, v. 32, 33, and 39.
t Bibiyan, Kal’eh-Zanjir, and Palan, are their most northern positions.