This  p^r,  however,  was  an  obstinate  character.  He
made  quite  sure  in  his  own  mind  that  the  deceiver  was
Sharaf  ^'siir,  and  in  revenge  he  determined  to  bring  the
matter  before  the  Viceroy,  at  that  time  'Ata  Muhammad
Khan,^!  and  get  the  thief  punished.  The  Viceroy  listened
with  great  interest  to  the  pir's  story,  and  at  once  issued  a
warrant  for  Sharaf's  arrest.  A  day  or  two  after  this  Sharaf
was  brought  before  the  Viceroy,  and  charged  with  having
stolen  the  saucepans,  spoons,  &c.,  of  the  pir,  and  in  other
ways  deceived  him.  The  pir  eyed  Sharaf  with  such  a
look  that  the  thief  at  length  pleaded  guilty,  and  begged  for
pardon,  promising  to  supply  the  Viceroy  with  enormous
wealth  if  he  would  let  him  go  free.  'Ata  Muhammad
Khan,  however,  was  immovable.  He  would  not  listen  to
his  pleadings  for  a  moment,  but  gave  strict  orders  that  his
right  hand  should  be  cut  off,  so  that  he  might  be  hindered
from  carrying  on  his  wicked  profession  in  the  future.
This  was  done ;  but  it  is  said  that  Sharaf  got  an  iron
hand  made,  with  sharp-pointed  fingers,  and  that  he  would

"  'AtS,  Muhammad  KhSn  was  one    the  country  remained  a  portion  of  the
of  the  fourteen  Governors  or  Viceroys    Durr&nJ  empire,
during  the  sixty-Bix  years  (1753-1819)


3S2  FOLK-TALES  OF  KASHMIR.
strike  any  one  on  the  neck  with  this  hand  who  would  not
consent  to  give  up  his  money  or  valuables.  He  killed
three  or  four  people  in  this  way.
There  are  many  other  stories  extant  in  Srinagar  and  in
the  villages  concerning  the  cruelty  and  cunning  of  this
man  too  numerous  to  note  here.
