Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-09-17

! fatwas. Europe and Asia have each Ca
tlilesker, or military judge, appointed annu-
ally. The next in dignity is the Istombul
ETendi, or Judge of Constantinople. In the
courts of other principal cities Mulas pre-
side; and in those of less note justice is adj
ministered or sold by IA Cadi. At Bursa, A
drianope, and ConStantinople, there are IL
Universities, for the instruction of those who
are devoted to the study of religion, or OF
civil and religious Jurisprudence. The Of
nee oeprofessor is called Mldarls. The &C.
clesastcal order consists of the Shaikh, who
breaches every Friday in the mosques; \.
/ the khalib, who reCites the klltOa, attest
ing the unity of God aad the prophetic cha
racter &c MahomeJ /; or the Guam, who per-
forms certain service i've times a day !;
| and OF the Muczzm, who, from the top of the
| Minarets, or towers, summons the Mosems
to prayers.
| The Grand Vizier is the chief executive
officer of the state, and formerly presided in
the Divan, which was composed OF six coun-
| cillors, afterwards increased to twelve. The
Sultan, or Grand Seignor, frequently attends
the deliberations IF this body in person. A
| Pachl of three tails is the Supreme deiegat-
ed governor of a province. 1t is believed
| that this distinction arises nut o. the original
constitution of the Turkish dgnities, desig-
mated by the number of cavalry the officer
commands. If the number be double that of
a common Munsule, or dignity, the comman-
der is a Pacha of two tails; if triple, he is a
Pacha Of three tails. A Pachalc is divided
into military districts called SaDgiacs, or
Standards. The Janizaries, Spahis, Yaims,
TImariots, Ca kind of vassals holding lands
| or other benefices in virtue OF military SER
| vice. are obliged, IN case of war, to unite
| under commander called SangiC5ey, and
wait the orders of the Pacha.
| The law of the Turks permits polgamy,
/ which, however, in strictness, is confined to
| four wives They are people foud of indo.
ience, moderate in their eating, and general
| ly charitable to strangers. They believe in
one God, and consider Mahomet as his prin-
| cipal prophet. Constantinople is still the ca
pital of the empire.
| ARABIA has been divided into three parts
l. Arabia Petrea; 9. Arabia Deserta and,
5. Arabia Felix. Each of these denomina-
tons is descriptive of the portion of the coun-
try to which 1t appertains. The smallest of
the three divisions is Arabia Pctrea, which
is mountainous and barren, and differs very
little from Arabian Deserta, which, in gene
raj, is a sterile sand Arabia Felix is the
most fertile, and produces frankincense,
myrrh. balm of Gilead, and the best of cnf
nifty of Mocha. The Arabians of the desar5
are at the same time herdmen and plumber
ers; they live in tents, and remove from
place to place, for the sake of pasture and
pI!lage. The caravans which travel from
BaSsora to Aleppo, and from Egypt to Nee
ca, frequently feel the effects Of the predato-
ny disposition of these wandering tribes.
/ Arabia is chiefly distinguished in history
by commerce and religion. Mahomet at
tractcd the inhabitants from the pastoral
life. to which, from the earliest times, they
had been accustomed and as his doctrines
were propagated by the sword. his prose
lytes, conquering Persia and Egypt, led
| themselves into temptations which the gains
oftrade in those countries held forth. They
carried on commerce with India in its usual
channel from the Persian gulph, and ad-
vancing beyond the boundaries of ancient ma
vigation, brought manv of the most precious
commodities Of the East directly from the
countries which produced them. In order
to engross all the profits arising from the
sale Of them. BaSsora was founded, few
years alter the conquest Of Persia, by the
Caiph Omar. on the western banks of the
great stream formed by the junction Of the
Euphrates and the Tigris. Goods imported
from India were conveyed from this new CITY
into all the western parts of Asia. Maho-
met himself, in his religious institutions, had
an eve to traffic. He enioined on all his fol-
lowers to visit once in their lifetime the Caa-
baa, rsquare building in the temple ofMecca
the immemorial object of veneration among
his countrymen. not only on account of It's
having been chosen, (according to their ira
dition) to be the residence of man at his
creation but because it was the first spo
on the earth that was consecrated to the
worship of God In order to preserve con
8 tiuually upon their minds, sense Of obliSa
ton TO perform this duty, he directed, tina
in all the multiplied acts of devotion, which
his religion prescribes, true believers SHOULD
! always turn their faces towards that holr
! place. In obedience to this Injunction, TN
votaries of the prophet advance TO Mecca
, from the shores Of the Atlantic on the on
hand, and from the most remote regions O
the East, on the other Mecca is thus crow
ded, not only with jealous devotees. bu
with opulent merchants. By this means
, fair trade is established, the greatest, per
haps, on the face Of the earth. Mercantil
y transactions arc carried on in it to an i'm
mensc value, of which the despatch, the ST
. lence, the mutual confidence and good fait
in conducting them, are the mos, unequ;vo
c Cal proof The muslins and chintzes Of Ben
gal and the Dcccan, the shawls of Cache
miere, tho pepper of Maiabar, the diamond
of Golconda, the cinnlnon Of Cevlon, tn
D nutmegs, cloves and mace Of the Mo,ucca
u and an immense number Of other India
commodities, form the articles Of merchal
! die at these fairs Of Mecca.
Mahomet, who gave at the same time
c religious and commercial bias to the Arr
r bans, was born at Mecca, A. ID. ST.. Z
G was of the tribe Of Koreish and his fami
II was noble. Ills circumstances, nevertheless