51�Թ�

The medical and surgical treatment of the faqirs is extremely crude.

The word “faqir” is an Arabic one, and denotes a Muhammadan ascetic; while the word “Sadhu” is Sanskrit, and is best retained for the Hindu ascetic.

The faqir asked him one or two questions as to the nature of the illness, wrote out the necessary charm, and passed on to the next.

He was then sent before the faqir, who remained seated on a mat.

When I travelled as a faqir I was frequently shadowed by the police, and sometimes a talkative and inquisitive companion would join me who eventually proved to be a detective in his disguise.