experience of ecstasy and nearness to God. Many of them fall down in utter exhaustion.
The pir, too, is expected to be able to work miracles for his followers. Some are noted for being able to work cures for snakebite, for healing all sorts of diseases, and for removing the curse of sterility from childless women. One of the functions of the pir is to supply charms for his people. These charms usually consist of verses from the Koran written on small pieces of paper which are folded and placed in a small case of silver or gold and worn around the neck or the arm of the person to ward off evil. They are placed on children to protect them from the effects of the evil eye, curses, disease, and accidents of all sorts. Conversely they are worn to bring good luck, safety during journeys, and success in examinations or in business. In Egypt and Syria drivers of automobiles will ordinarily not venture out without hanging a string of blue beads over the front of the radiator to protect them from accident.
Many localities are associated with the protection of some particular saint. In the Vale of Kashmir, for example, the patron saint of the Jhelum River valley is one Abdul Qadir Jilani, whose tomb is in Baghdad. The Kashmiris call him Pir Dastgir (The Helpful Pir). His help is continually sought, especially by the Moslem boatmen of the valley. The following verses, written by the author during a vacation in Kashmir, will perhaps show how the common people look to the pir for help in their everyday life.
THE
