'Personal Narrative of a pilgrimmage to Al-Madinah and Meccah. Vol. II' [‎2] (23/568)

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Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah.
according to some, are descendants of the Ansar, whilst
others derive them from Yazid, the son of Mu'awiyah:
the latter opinion is improbable, as the Caliph in question
was a mortal foe to Ali's family, which is inordinately
venerated by these people. As far as I could ascertain,
they abuse the Shaykhayn (AbuBakrand Omar): all my
informants agreed upon this point, but none could tell me
why they neglected to bedevil Osman, the third object of
hatred to the Shi'ah persuasion. They are numerous and
warlike, yet they are despised by the townspeople, because
they openly profess heresy, and are moreover of humble
degree. They have their own priests and instructors,
although subject to the orthodox Kazi; marry in their
own sect, are confined to low offices, such as slaughtering
animals, sweeping, and gardening, and are not allowed to
enter the Harim during life, or to be carried to it after
death. Their corpses are taken down an outer street
called the Darb al-Janazah—Road of Biers—to their own
cemetery near Al-Bakia. They dress and speak Arabic,
like the townspeople ; but the Arabs pretend to distinguish
them by a peculiar look denoting their degradation : it is
doubtless the mistake of effect for cause, about all such
"Tribes of the wandering foot and weary breast."
A number of reports are current about the horrid
hazard a conjecture that they may be identical with the Mutawalli
(also written Mutawilah, Mutaalis, Metoualis, &c., &c.), the hard/,
courageous, and hospitable mountaineers of Syria, and Ccelesyria
Proper. This race of sectarians, about 35,000 in number, holds tfl
the Imamship or supreme pontificate of Ali and his descendants.
They differ, however, in doctrine from the Persians, believing in a
transmigration of the soul, which, gradually purified, is at last
"orbed into a perfect star." They are scrupulous of caste, and will
not allow a Jew or a Frank to touch a piece of their furniture: yet
they erect guest-houses for Infidels. In this they resemble the
Shi'ahs, who are far more particular about ceremonial purity than
the Sunnis. They use ablutions before each meal, and herein remind
us of the Hindus.