ur contains
the tombs of three of the Surat Mullahs who happened to die when
they were at Burhanpur. The tombs are in shell-lime and are fairly
handsome erections. The Bohras support here by voluntary subscription
a rest-house, where members of the sect coming to the city can obtain
free board and lodging for as long as they like to stay. Mr. Conolly
says of their graveyards: [391]

"Their burial-grounds have a pleasing appearance, the tombs being
regularly arranged in streets, east and west. The tombs themselves,
which are, of course, north and south, the corpse resting on its right
side, differ in no respect from those of Sunnis, with the exception
of a small _chiragh takia_ or lamp-socket, cut out of the north face,
just like the cavity for the inscription of our own tombs."

5. Religious customs.

Of their religion Mr. Kitts writes: [392] "In prayers they differ
both from Shias and Sunnis in that they follow their Mullah, praying
aloud after him, but without much regularity of posture. The times for
commencing their devotions are about five minutes later than those
observed by Sunnis. After the midday and sunset supplications they
allow a short interval to elapse, remaining themselves in the mosque
meanwhile. They then commence the afternoon and evening prayers and
thus run five services into three."

Mr. Thurston notes that the Bohras consider themselves so superior
to other sects that if another Muhammadan enters their mosque
they afterwards clean the spot which he has occupied during his
prayers. [393] They show strictness in other ways, making their
own sweetmeats at home and declining to eat those of the Halwai
(confectioner). It is said also that they will not have their clothes
washed by a Dhobi, nor wear shoes made by a Chamar, nor take food
touched by any Hindu. They are said to bathe only on Fridays, and some
of them not on every Friday. If a dog touches them they are unclean
and must change their clothes. They celebrate the Id and Ramazan a
day before other Muhammadans. At the Muharram their women break all
their bangles and wear new bangles next day to show that they have
been widowed, and during this period they observe mourning by going
without shoes and not using umbrellas. Mr. Conolly says of them:
"I must not omit to notice that a fine of 20 cowries (equally for
rich and poor) punishes the non-attendance of a Bohra at the daily
prayers. A large sum is exacted for remissness during the Ram