"other dumry will I advance, would it bring you to immortality instead of a garden." "Ah! now, Meer-sahib, be not so flint-hearted; the sum I want is nothing to one on whom the Prophet, (blessed be his name!) has been so bountiful; that unbelieving dog, Choony Loll, has paid the money for the ground to the owner, and if I lodge not the same sum in court within three days, should Mustaza Buksh refuse to receive it, my hukshufa, (right of pre-emption,) will be barred." "Mashallah, does the generous Azeezoolah refuse me this slight favor?" (screamed an old cidevant natch girl, who had grown wealthy on the wages of music and iniquity,) "did I not send him my two best tayfehs on the Eed, even when I had taken the hichry (a) from Bichukdas, who always pays; and is this the return I get? I cannot pay Meerjee the Tamapuk for five hundred Rupees, if he refuse to lend me three hundred more; for my Moktar tells me it is not on stamp paper of the proper value, and who would defraud the Sirkar; if the Sahib will return it, and draw out another for eight hundred Rupees, our mutual prosperity will be secured." This was a tithe of what the mahajun had commonly to submit to, and after being perplexed in the extreme, he was obliged to find refuge in a temporary flight.

With all the good qualities of the mahajun, he had one failing which all his best friends have been compelled to admit; his mind, by no process of reasoning, could ever be brought to conceive the idea, that any of his less powerful creditors could die and leave heirs; the existence of such upstarts was to him like red sulphur, or the appearance of the Hooma, a nearly physical impossibility, and though a decree of court made him now and then pay for his scepticism, it was doubtful if even this argumentum ad crum nam fully convinced him. There was, however, one solution of this peculiarity which was not known to every one, namely, that Azeezoolah, at the end of the year, taking the decrees into consideration, found his view of the subject very profitable, and by adhering to it, and others of a similar nature, in a few years he became one of the most opulent bankers of the city.

The lot of many, from misfortune and extravagance, had, in the same period, equally altered. Among the principal debtors of the mahajun was the Nawab Yusuf Aley Khan, descended from one of the oldest and most powerful Mussulman families. The British Government, for valuable services, had settled on the father of Yusuf, and his heirs in perpetuity, an ample, nay princely allowance, and the credit of the family, during his life, was maintained in all its wonted dignity. But he not having the fear of Malthus before his eyes, or completely absorbed in thus, (according to his Moslem ideas,) glorifying his Creator, at his death left such a numerous progeny, that when the stipend was divided among his children, according to the provisions of the Mussulman law, the share of each was barely sufficient for the ordinary expenses of their several families. Yusuf received his portion with the rest, but found it quite inadequate. He had been a favorite son, and enjoying, during his father's lifetime, an unlimited supply of money, and when he contemplated the small pittance

(a) Earnest money given at the time of hire.

he was to exist on, his heart, for a time, sunk within him. The numerous Suwaree and dependants, which in the days of his prosperity, he regarded rather as an annoyance, and would, without a sigh, have dispensed with, now, that their retention must entail positive ruin, seemed necessary to his existence. For some time he managed to support them, but stern necessity at last convinced even him of his inability to discharge such expenses, and with a sullen resolution he determined rather to remain prisoner-like at home, than be seen abroad shorn of his honors.

Azeezoolah had at first afforded him these means, but he was not the man to do so without good and sufficient security, and when Yusuf's house was mortgaged, and his wife's jewels pledged to him, he became no longer the willing lender, but positively refused to advance a single Rupee. To add to the misfortunes of the debtor, his son had just become of an age, when the youth thought it necessary to reduce to practice, these ideas of high birth and family, in which he had been educated, the first and primary one of which was to spend money. Yusuf was now fairly in the sea of calamity, beset by innumerable duns, the mortgage of his house on the point of being foreclosed, he knew not where to look for aid; but, like a good Mussulman, he never despaired; “Allah Acbar," God is great, was his neverfailing consolation. One day having taken a little more than his usual dose of opium, the extra quantity acted as a spur to his imagination, and "chewing the cud of sweet and bitter fancy," the idea flit across his mind, of the possibility of a marriage between his son and the daughter of the wealthy banker. The advantage, in a pecuniary point of view, appeared in bright relief when contrasted with his present embarrassed condition; but then the connection, so inferior in point of birth to what he had looked to, and thought he had a right to expect. His sounder judgment, however, told him, that something must be done, and that immediately, if he wished to save himself and his house from ruin.

He had every reason to believe, when, as he considered it, all the sacrifice was on his part, that the mahajun would willingly accede to any overtures on this subject, nor in this was he mistaken. Azeezoolah and his wife had more than once agitated the expediency of bartering some of their Rupees, of which they had a superfluity, for a little blood, in which commodity they were "poor indeed;" and if their daughter, (who would equally benefit by the transaction,) afforded the means of such a transfer, would they be wise not to take advantage of it. It was thus they reasoned, and when Yusuf, finding no other way of extricating himself from his difficulties, had broken the subject to the mahajun, it was not surprising that an union was agreed on; and in a short time nothing was heard of in the bazar, but the splendid preparations for the nuptials of Feroz and the banker's daughter.

Azeezoolah behaved handsomely on the occasion; the debts of Yusuf were cancelled, an ample sum was advanced for the expenses of the wedding, and he agreed to give an adequate allowance for the maintenance of the new-married pair; it was only insisted on by him, that the dower settled on his daughter should be large. Let us now turn to her, whose happiness he thus wished to secure :- -Azimun was now

entering her fifteenth year; parental fondness had done every thing to heighten the gifts of nature which had, in this instance, been bestowed. with no sparing hand. Her father had taught her some scraps of the Koran, and her mother some tunes on the Sitar, so that her accomplishments greatly exceeded the ordinary standard of female acquirements. Her stature was rather above the common, slender as a cypress, with a a waist, "fine by degrees, and beautifully less." The fair complexion she inherited from her parents and native climate, had suffered little by its change to a less genial sky. Her features partook much of the Jewish cast; her long black hair, when left uncontrolled, fell about her neck in luxuriant tresses, and her eyes, dark-glancing from their jetty fringes, were an "alarm to love." To behold her bending over her lute, her jewelled fingers clasping the chords, one might have doubted whether houries were confined to Paradise; and as the sounds they awakened blended with her voice, in some of the finest strains of the voluptuous Hafiz, Heaven might have claimed her for its own. By the repeated declaration of her mother, Azimun had fully believed the fact, that she was the most fortunate of women. It was credibly told her, that the overtures of two of the Umra of the place, for an union of their families with Feroz, had, for her sake, been refused. The love of Feroz was shown to be excessive, and if so great, when he had never seen her, where could be the bounds when he actually beheld such a pearl of beauty?

The

The ceremony of betrothing soon took place; Feroz dispatched to his bride a large supply of sweetmeats, to demonstrate the quality of his affection, and Azimun acknowledged it by returning the value in money, as a substantial proof of the inroads he had made on her heart. 11th of the succeeding month was appointed for the marriage. Yusuf had, in the meantime, put the mahajun's rupees to good account, and the preparations, on his part, were the theme of unqualified praise.

On the appointed day, towards the evening, the friends of the bridegroom assembled at his father's house, and after remaining some time in paying congratulating compliments, they proceeded to erect the Numgirah, (a kind of square tent, supported by four poles, and open at the sides,) in the compound of the Zenanah. Under this was placed splendid dresses for the husbands of the sisters of Feroz, and they, assisted by all, were soon equipped in their new suits, holding fast one of the poles during the ceremony. When this was concluded, the parties separated. The next day the female acquaintance of the bridegroom's family met under the same Numgirah, and, for once, dispensing with servants, prepared for themselves a sumptuous repast, which they managed to dispatch, and then returned home, praising Allah, the bridegroom, and the pilaus for the good dinner they had made. On the evening of this day, the husband of the nearest female relation of the bride, (she having no sister,) received, at the house of the mahajun, with the same ceremonies, a present similar to that given at the bridegroom's, and this again was succeeded on the morrow by a feminine banquet, as before described.

-As the evening closed in, Azimun was startled by the sounds of music, discharges of fire works, and numerous lights. The procession from whence they came stopped before the door, and the arrival of the Burry was announced. She was now to see how Feroz would evince his affection, and a person was dispatched to take charge of the presents; we will enumerate them, to show the costly and curious turn of Moslem love, Twenty one complete suits or dresses, made of the finest colored silk and muslins, the three customary bridal ornaments, fifty-two jars, beautifully embossed and colored, containing rice, mango stones, and turmeric; four maunds of red nareh, (thread,) dispatched on a camel, and a profusion of itr, paun, sugar, &c. completed the motley collection. On their receipt, the beautiful red shahaneh, (or wedding dress,) stiff with gold embroidery, was forwarded to Feroz, and as Azimun took a last look at it, she wondered, if when it again met her view, her heart would be thus tranquil. A vakeel or agent, for the purpose of reading the nikah, and two witnesses, to certify to his appointment, accompanied the shahaneh. On their arrival, the vakeel remained on one side, while the shahaneh was placed before Feroz, by the taylor, whose evening work it was; the bridegroom then allowed himself to be dressed by his numerous kind friends; and the Sihveh, or head dress of flowers, brought by the Maly of the bride, having been fixed in his turban, the vakeel advanced, and seating himself on the edge of the musnud opposite Feroz, demanded if he recognized him. The bridegroom having replied in the affirmative, the vakeel told his errand, which being confirmed by the witnesses, he commenced reading the Khatbah-i-nikah. On its conclusion he asked in Arabic, Persian, and Hindee, whether, in exchange of the specified dower, (one lac and one rupee,) he consented to marry Azimun, the daughter of Azeezoolah, and grand daughter of Imayut Ally. Feroz signified his assent, by the customary responses in each language. The stated portion of the Koran was then read, the assembly, with a loud amen, concluding every sentence. Feroz then arose, and salaaming to those who were his equals, advanced to his father, and after offering him a muzzi knelt and kissed his feet.

In a short time the barat or procession was ready, and the bridegroom, veiled and mounted on a beautiful Arab, having taken his proper station, it started for the house of the bride. On its arrival, Feroz was assisted to dismount, and conducted by female attendants to the numgirah. In his absence, the usual squabble took place, as to whether or not the bride's relation, should be allowed to mount the husband's horse.

The bridegroom found himself among a crowd of women, and though the veil, in a great degree, obstructed his views he could distinguish the younger part as they flitted by him: but a feeling of disappointment came over him, for he knew however his eye might wander from one beauty to another, it could never rest on her.

The merasins, (females who sing at weddings before women,) now approached, singing a lively air, and having made a thin cord of the red narch which had been sent the bride, passed it round the neck of Feroz, and notwithstanding his apparent confusion, (which the ladies greatly en

joyed,) it was not till his mother advanced, and gave them some money that they relinquished their hold. The sherbet was now brought, and Feroz, after drinking it, rose to depart; having mounted his horse, the barat was again in motion, and morning dawned ere it arrived at the house which had been prepared by the bride's relations for the feast, which we will leave them to witness while we return to Azimun. She was occupied all that day in looking over the increase her wardrobe had received; every dress had been more than once tried on, each called forth an expression of her love for Feroz, and gratitude to the taylor. But as the evening drew near, this coquetting gave place to the arduous duties of á real toilette, and twilight had elapsed ere it was finished, and the female mercury dispatched to the bridegroom, while the officious attendants were striving to heighten the charms of their mistress, some dissuading, others recommending an extra dot or two on her surma-tinged eyelashes. Azimun remained in silent suspense; now and then a blush mantled on her cheek, as imagination converted every sound into indications of her lover's approach, and proved the Oriental bride was not without her pleasing fears. She was covered with jewels and ornaments, but the practised eye immediately singled out the golden chounty attached to the ends of her hair, the massy pail resting on her delicate ancles, and the surasurry fringing the deputtah that proclaimed the bride.

At length Feroz arrived, and having been conducted to the numgirah, a person was dispatched to summon Azimun; she now, fairly confused, yielded to her attendants, one of whom, lifting her up, carried her under the numgirah to a kind of sofa placed near Feroz, but a purdah or curtain hung between; some of the merasins advanced and unveiled the bridegroom, while others made Azimun stand on the sofa, and the purdah was so arranged, that in this position the upper part of her countenance was visible above it: Feroz fixed his eyes steadily in that direction, and as the face of Azimun appeared, her hands joined over her forehead, the merasins slowly swinging her from side to side, thus keeping time to their singing, it seemed to him as if a vision from Behisht had decreed it, and that this was his wife; the thought was ectacy. The first song being finished, the bride was again seated; bashfulness did not allow her to look at her leige lord; but on rising for the second, she became less confused, and by the end of the last, she was convinced her heart was in extricably lost, and that Feroz was the plunderer. At the conclusion of the seven songs, the purdah was removed, and Feroz summoned beside his bride. He was seated with his left knee erect, Azimun reclined her head on the right, and his hand rested on her shoulder, and in this position he received the customary salamy from the women. Azimun was afterwards carried to the mianeh, which was in readiness, and Feroz, after taking the salamy from the near relatives of his wife, on coming out of the house, marched off with her in triumph, and thus ended the nuptials of Azimun and Feroz. The first moon passed, but their love did not wane with it. Azimun was perfectly happy, and sincerely pitied those among her young friends whose fathers could not afford to marry them. Feroz spent most of his time in the zananah, and when the wife heard her neighbours complain of the neglect they received from their husbands, she contrasted their