"أسفار في بلوشستان والسند؛ مع تقرير جغرافي وتاريخي لهذين البلدين، وخريطة." [‎١‎١‎٤] (٤٧٦/١٥٦)

114
UNLUCKY DAY.
7th. " On reaching Kirman, go to the principal Hindoo there, so
" that I may obtain from him instant information regarding you on
" my arrival at that city."
(Signed) Charles Christie , Capt.
L 20th March, This morning Captain Christie was firmly bent on
starting, and went to the Sirdar, who instantly said that he was
ready to abide by his promise, but that the day, being the Hindoo
festival of the Hooly, was exceedingly unlucky, and that no person
in his senses would think of setting out on a journey on such an oc
casion. To this absurd discourse Captain Christie replied, that we
could have no objections on that score, as we had been travelling for
some months. " What you say is correct," rejoined the Sirdar,
" but those who go with you from this place are not so circum-
" stanced, and on their account you should select a propitious hour
" to depart." Our assumed character of Moosulmans did not per
mit us to reprehend and ridicule this fresh source of detention, and
concomitant uneasiness, as we could have wished, and Captain
Christie was necessitated to yield an assent to remaining until the
21s/ instant, on which day afternoon, the Hooly would cease.
Before bed-time the Sirdar sent one of his slaves to desire that we
would speak to him, and having led us a long way from the Toomun
into the desart, he conjured us, as the greatest obligation we could
confer upon him, not to employ in any way whatever his nephew
Moorad Khan, whom he loaded with every epithet that was oppro
brious and disgraceful. " As sure as you do," said he, <fc he
" will mislead you, and then who is to call a vagabond like
" him to account. Should I be accessary in any manner to de-
" frauding you, I am always to be laid hold of, and made to answer
" for my misconduct, which is not the case with that outcast ruf-
" fian." We promised not to hire Moorad, or in short have any
thing to say to him, unless through the medium ol his uncle, who
was greatly pleased at our ready concession, which I fancy he by
no means anticipated: but we determined to adhere to it no longer