St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-12-31
Notes from Turkey.
+ FASTS AND FEASTS.-
To the Editor Of the CoIpd0pjan


deistoOd unless one has lived in Turkey
Among other things. | notice the fol
lowin couplet.
Tonight, set Rhamazani- sun;
Tonight, the Bairam frast's begun"
The great fast of Rhanazan is Just
over and ii has occurred To me to write
You >"methin" about it. as well as some
of the numerous other fastS and feasts
observed in Con>tantinoplr
Rhamazan is the Mohammedan Lent.
Before the time of the Prophet, the
ninth month of he year was held sacred,
and it was on this month. the month
Rhamazan, that Mohammcd used to
retire to the cave in Mount lIira to fast
and mediate and pray. 1t was then
and there, while miraculously sustained
from heaven, that he claimed to have
received the revelation of the creed
which he afterwards taught to his peo-
pie and which WAS promulgated with
such marvellous success. In the second
chapter of the Koran we find the eX-
press command, The month of Rham-
azan shall ye fast. i'll which the Kora:.
was sent down from heaven
The requirements of the Koran ap-
ply, however. only to the day time. tor
We find further on, ''lt is lawful for
You on the nights of the fast to do that
which God ordaineth YOU: to eat and
drink. until We can plainly distinguish
Il white thread from il black thread by
the day break then keep the fast till
night. abstain from pleasure. and he
constantly present in the places of
Worship" This is the Rhanazan that
is kept by The Turks to-day.
1t is well known that the followers of
the Prophet are far from being ascetics.
aud this month of fasting is indeed Il
modification to the flesh. 1t is how
ever very generally observed and from
day break until sunset. (l2 o'clock Il la
Tpg"c.) no faithful M"Slem will taste
of food. or moiStcn his lips with water.
pleasure. This is not Il gricvouS bur
den for the rich who can afford to spend
the night in carnuSal and traSting. and
sleep during the day. but for the labor
iug poor it is excessively severe. These.
too. are tn" ones most careful! il their
religions oh>trNancc>. for their wretch
..,l l,t
the rewards promised to the faithful
and they eagerly expect the Paradise.
oi delights where all their wants are To
he boumtitullN supplied and their wishes
anticipated 10y the beautiful, black
eyed hOHriS.
The season of wear when RhamaZan
lahoriug man. At the time of its in
>titutiuu the ninth month occurred in
the winter. but as the Prophet ordained
that twelve lunar months should be
called Il Year. the fast comes earlier
cNeIN year. and three times in Il century
il is IN mid summer. 1t then becomes
u AlIbIlS II III bl lllIu 10 Iil"I Ill lHt
sun from morning till night without
tasting Il moI,,cl of food or II drop of
water.
The close of the daily fast is an
nounced 10y the Srn-Sct gun. 1t is in
tercStimg To watch the half-tamished
Turks as the time approaches for the
welcome signal. You will see servants
standing at the doors of their masters
with Il smoking dinner on their heads, -
soldiers. sailors. hamdIs and workmen
walking the streets. with Il loaf of bread
or vessel of water in their hands. and
many an old Turk. whose pipe is more
To him than his dinner. sitting with his
long chiboq"" filled with tobacco. and a
match in his hand all ready To atone foI
his long abstinence. and the echoes of
the >un-sct gun have hardly died away
before You see him the picture of bliss
ful tranquility, crowned with wreaths
of tobacco smoke.
One day during the recent Rhamaz;tn,
had occasion to hire caiqueii to
take me ACROSS the Bosphorus about
SUNSET. hut neither coaNing nor bribes
would induce him to take me to my
destination. | was surprised, for had
never btfuIc seen il Turk who WAS re
gardless of the chink of piaStrcS. But
soon discovered the cause. lie was
hungry. For twelve hours he had
worked without eating. and hunger
was stronger than avarice.
An illustration of how the Turks
cling to their custom, was brought to
my notice the other day. \ Turkish
official, who had just come from Amer
lea, where he has spent several years.
recently called on one of our missionary
ladies with whose friends he had he
come acquainted in New Haven. In
accordance with the universal etiquette
here in Turkey. she offered him IL cup
of coffee. which he. however, politely
declined saying, "Iou forget it is
Rhamazan."
The nights of Rhamazan are given
up to revelry and feasting. Whatever
spiritual benefit Or personal merit may
accrue from twelve hours fasting. is
speedily diminished 10y the debauchery
of the night. Rhamazan might more