FAVOUK SHOWN TO HDsDU ASCETICS 293

and magic. The king himself studied alchemy and used to exhibit the gold which he made. One night in the year, called Shiv-rat (" the night of Siva "), was ap- pointed for a grand assembly of ascetics from all parts of the country, and on this occasion his Majesty would eat and drink with the best of them, being especially gratified by their assurances that he was destined to live three or four times longer than the natural life of, man.'