The Zuckhaut (God's portion).--Syaads restricted the benefit of this charity.--The Sutkah.--The Emaum's Zaumunee (protection).--The Tenths, or Syaads' Due.--Mussulmauns attribute thanks to God only, for all benefits conferred.--Extracts from the 'Hyaatool Kaaloob'.--Mahumud's advice.--His precepts tend to inculcate and encourage charity.--Remarks on the benevolence of Mussulmauns. On the subject of Zuckhaut, commanded by Mahumud to his followers, I shall have little to remark;--the nature of the institute is intended to oblige mankind to share with the poor a due portion of those benefits they have received through the bounty of Divine Providence. Every Mussulmaun is expected by this law to set apart from his annual income one-fortieth part, denominated Zuckhaut (God's portion), for the sole benefit of the poor. I believe there are not many,--judging by what I have witnessed among the Mussulmaun population of Hindoostaun,--who do not expend a much larger portion of their yearly income in charitable donations, than the enjoined fortieth part. The poor Syaads are not allowed to receive any relief from 'the Zuckhaut'[1]; they being of the Prophet's blood, are not to be included with the indigent for whom these donations are generally set apart. The strict Mussulmaun of the Sheah sect usually deducts one-tenth[2] from whatever money comes into his possession as 'the Syaads' due', to whom it is distributed, as proper objects present themselves to his knowledge; much in the same way as the tribe of Levi are entitled to the tenth of the produce from their brethren of Israel by the Mosaic law. The Syaads are likewise restricted from accepting many other charitable offerings,--sutkah for instance--by which is meant the several things composing peace-offerings, offerings in atonement, &c. The better to explain this I must here describe some of the habits of the Mussulmaun population:--When any person escapes from a threatened danger, or accident, their friends send offerings of corn, oil, and money; all that is thus sent to the person preserved, must be touched by his hand and then distributed amongst the poor and needy. If any member of a family be ill, a tray is filled with corn, and some money laid on it: it is then placed under the bed of the sick person for the night; in the morning this is to be distributed amongst the poor. Some people cook bread, and place it in the same way with money under the bed of the sick. All these things are called Sutkah[3] in whatever form they are planned, which is done in a variety of ways; and, when distributed to the poor, are never to be offered to, nor allowed to be accepted by, the Syaad race. The scapegoat, an animal in good health and without blemish, is another offering of the Sutkah denomination: a Syaad is not allowed to be one of the number to run after the goat released from the sick chamber.