'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎54] (187/458)

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COMMANDER P. JONES.
Persians, 'with a sprinkling of Indians of the Shiah sect that have been
exiled from their country for political offences, or have strayed here from
a feeling of sanctity combined with a wish to prey upon their fellow
pligrims.—The tomb is numerously visited from all parts of the Malio-
medan world where ’Ali and his race are the peculiar objects of vene
ration pomp and beggary.—Silk and rags, are seen jostling each other
in the Court of the Mosque, and a halo-like fanaticism dangerous
alike to the Christian or the jew, renders access to it impossible by these
sects, sufficient however is seen of the building to cause regret that but
few edifices of the like architectural beauty and ornament are met with
in a country where such a style is adopted. The Minarets and square
en-compassing the dead are elaborately enamelled in a rich Mosaic
work, and the walls are also adorned with legends from the Koran, and
the sayings of holy men, executed in elegant Arabic characters, after
the manner of a tesselated pavement. Apart from the decaying
hovels around, the sepulchre itself would form a magnificent picture,
and even now at the distance of a mile—its double dome and lofty
minarets, entirely covered with beaten gold, cannot fail to excite the
admiration of a lover of the picturesque. The eve is that of Nu-Roz*
on the new year of the old Persian calendar—a day of rejoicing as well
as of prayer, and the scene before us as we pass along the road, has be
come more animated than usual. The sun is just casting its last rays
on the prospect ; the gilded minarets alone, from their great height, are
just tipped with, its beams, and resemble as many stars in the distance
guiding the multitude to the shrines. We pass individuals of every
feature and race. The wanderer from far Thibet and Cashmere, the Af
ghan and the Persian—the Mogul and the native Arab, both horse and
foot are proceeding to take part in the festivities of the ensuing day.
Others have spread their carpets, or their cloaks by the road side, and
kneeling in the attitude of prayer, are performing their devotions with
an energy, that might be considered sincere did we not know the cha
racter of the people. Turned towards the Keblah of their faisb, their
countenances exhibit every variety of feature and, perhaps in no place of
the same extent, can be remarked so many forms of the u human face
Nu-Roz (Persian) the day of the vernal equinox and the commencement of
the old Persian year. It signifies literally (< new day” and is a day of great rejoicing >
the Persians.