[20] The practice of offering food to the dead is an Indian innovation on Musalman practice; it is based on the Hindu custom of offering flour-balls (_pinda_) to the spirit of the dead man. [21] This was a Hebrew practice, condemned by the prophets (2 Samuel xv. 30; Ezekiel xxiv. 17). [22] _Tamjhan, thamjan_, the Anglo-Indian 'tonjon' or 'tomjohn', the derivation of which is obscure. See Yule, _Hobson-Jobson_[2], 930 f. [23] Ill-feeling between Sunnis and Shi'ahs is not universal in India. 'Though the Sunnis consider the Shi'ah observances as impious, they look on with the contempt of indifference. The fact that the British Government punishes all who break the peace may have something to do with this. Still the Sunni and the Shi'ah in India live on much better terms, and have more respect for each other than the Turk has for the Persian, or the Persian for the Turk. Some Musalman poets, indeed, are both Sunnis and Shi'ahs.'--E. Sell, _The Faith of Islam_, 292 f.; cf. p. 14. [24] Aiyub. LETTER V Time.--How divided in Hindoostaun.--Observances after Mahurrum.--Luxuries and enjoyments resumed.--Black dye used by the ladies.--Their nose-ring.--Number of rings worn in their ears.--Mode of dressing their hair.--Aversion to our tooth-brushes.--Toilet of the ladies.--The Pyjaamahs.--The Ungeeah (bodice).--The Courtie.--The Deputtah.--Reception of a superior or elder amongst the ladies.--Their fondness for jewels.--Their shoes.--The state of society amongst the Mussulmaun ladies.--Their conversational endowments.--Remarks upon the fashion and duty of beards. In my last I alluded to the 'third watch'; it will now, perhaps, be necessary to explain the divisions of time, as observed by the Mussulmauns of Hindoostaun. The day is divided into four equal parts, or watches, denominated purrhs[1]; as, first purrh, second purrh, &c. The night is also divided into four purrhs, each of which is subdivided into ghurries[2] (hours), varying in number with the changes of season; the longest days require eight ghurries to one purrh; the shortest, only six. The same division is observed for the night. The day is reckoned from the earliest dawn to the last decline of light:--there is very little twilight in the Upper Provinces of India.