Liquor is of course prohibited to the Ataris as to other Muhammadans,
but some of them drink it nevertheless. Some of them eat beef and
others abstain. The blood of animals killed must flow before death
according to the rite of _halal_, but they say that fish are an
exception, because when Abraham was offering up his son Ishmael and
God substituted a goat, the goat bleated before it was killed, and
this offended Abraham, who threw his sacrificial knife into the sea:
the knife struck and killed a fish, and on this account all fish
are considered to be _halal_ or lawful food without any further
rite. The Ataris observe the Hindu law of inheritance, and some of
them worship Hindu deities, as Mata the goddess of smallpox. As a rule
their women are not secluded. The Ataris make _missi_ or tooth-powder
from myrobalans, cloves and cardamoms, and other constituents. This
has the effect of blackening the teeth. They also sell the _kunku_
or red powder which women rub on their foreheads, its constituents
being turmeric, borax and the juice of limes. They sell scent and
sometimes deal in tobacco. The scents most in demand are _gulab-pani_
or rose-water and _phulel_ or essence of tilli or sesamum. Scents are
usually sold by the tola of 18 annas silver weight, [37] and a tola
of attar may vary in price from 8 annas to Rs. 80. Other scents are
made from _khas-khas_ grass, the mango, henna and musk, the _bela_
flower, [38] the champak [39] and cucumber. Scent is manufactured
by distillation from the flowers boiled in water, and the drops of
congealed vapour fall into sandalwood oil, which they say is the basis
of all scents. Fragrant oils are also sold for rubbing on the hair,
made from orange flowers, jasmine, cotton-seed and the flowers of
the _aonla_ tree. [40] Scent is sold in tiny circular glass bottles,
and the oils in little bottles made from thin leather. The Ataris
also retail the little black sticks of incense which are set up and
burnt at the time of taking food and in temples, so that the smell
and smoke may keep off evil spirits. When professional exorcists are
called upon to clear any building, such as a hospital, supposed to be
haunted by spirits or the ghosts of the dead, they commence operations
by placing these sticks of incense at the entrance and setting them
alight as in a temple.