DAMIETTA, a town in Egypt supposed to have given its uame to the dimity fabric. It was long ago suggested that the word dimity is the Greek Diantos, so called because wovetwwith a double thread in the woof. Professor Skeat has lent his authority to this etymology.
DAM-i-MADAR, called also Dhummul, is a popular ceremony with the agricultural and lower classes in India. It consists in jumping into a fire, and treading it out, with the exclamation of Dam-i-Madar, Dam-i-Madarl' that is, By the breath of Madar, by the breath of Madar.' It is devoutly believed that not a hair of these devotees gets singed, and that those who have practised the ceremony are secure against the venom of snakes and scorpions. Badi-ud-Din Shah Madar, in honour of whom this ceremony annually takes place, was, according to the Mirat-i-Madaria, a converted Jew. He is said to have been born at Aleppo in 1050 A.D., and to have come to India in the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Sharki, aud, having taken up his abode between Cawnpur and Far rakhabad, and expelled therefrom an evil genius called Mukun Deo, who infested the place, he gave the name of Mukunpur to his residence, and was buried there in 1433 A.D., at the good old age of
nearly four hundred years. The tomb, which is a handsome structure, was raised over him by Sultan Ibrahim. He is believed still to be alive, and hence is frequently styled Zinda Shah hfadar. The prophet Mahomed gave him the power of habs-i-dam, or retention ;of breath, and hence arose his longevity, as the number of his respira tions was diminished at pleasure. There is a class of fakirs called Madaria, after his name. They generqy wear black cloth, and are much addicted to the use of intoxicating drugs. A fair is held at the tomb during the first 17 days of Jarnadi ul-Awal.—Elliot, Supp. Gloss. See Madaria.