Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-02-29
FAST OF RAMADAN.
THE LONG MONTH or AGONY FoR
HUNGRY TURKS.

tho Discomforts Of Their Religion.
Tho Beggars Disposed Of-In the Great
Mosque of st. sophia.
Ramadan-that terrible month of daily
fasting and nightly feasting-is, like the
Chinese new year, governed by the moon.
! This year, precisely at the moment the
new moon became visible, the evening OF
May :, Ramadan began and continued
throughout the lunar month. The origin
Of this long fast seems shrouded in mys
terry, as it is said to have been observed
by the fire worshipers long before the
time OF Mahomet Ali, who thought the
command to all true believers to fast thus
eleven months in the year was quite too
much to require of mortal flesh; through
the Angel Gabriel he therefore besought
the great spirit to reduce the time one
half. Finding this still heavy trial, he
again interceded and got the time fixed at
one lunar month, where it still remains,
and no doubt thousands of Mohammedans
ardently wish the time much more re-
duced.
BY the more intelligent class it is less
religiously observed each passing year,
but to the pious peasantry it still means
real penance, as they faithfully abstain
from food, drink and even from the use
of tobacco, during the entire day. Even
the "Hamalsh (who are the real beasts OF
burden here) are so conscientious about
keeping this fast, that, with every nervc
qaivering with fatigue, and in torment
with hunger, they will staEd with a
tempting morsel in hand watching the de-
clining sun, patiently waiting until the
sunset gong is heard, then devour it in
beast like haste. In homes of affiuence
the devoutly inclined sit at their tables,
with fork or spoon in hand, waiting also
for the welcome boom Of cannon before
they can begin their nightly feasting. AS
rule, they turn night into day and vice
versa. Still it is supposed some ap is
INDUCED in, as precisely at O'clock a
patrol passes through each stl with a
large drum, bent upon AWAKENING all
sleepers to q midnight feast, which may
be prolonged until the morning twilight,
Then the mouth must be carefully cleansed
and the fast resHmed.
It is now said that but few Of the aris-
tocracy of Turkey pay any heed to this
fast, still they dare not publicly disregard
it. The sultan is credited with setting an
example of strict observance If he does
80 literally, he must neither eat drink
nor smoke during the long summer day.
| freshing perfume is sin.
This month of fasting is supposed to be
revival season. to the Moslems, in
! which they are to devote much time to the
| study of the Koran. Hospitality, aims
giving, prayer and peacefulness are to be
especially cultivated. You hear of the
rich man standing at his door at sunset
| to salute and invite to his table the poor
| who happen to pass by, sending them on
| their way rejoicing in presents of money,
but you see little of this today. On the
contrary, you may observe sthe powers
that ben take great pains to rid the city
of its swarms of beggars. Before Ramadan
begins the edict goes forth that all found
asking aims in public thoroughfares shall
be arrested. Those from the provinces
are to be sent to their homes; those who
are found to have neither homes nor
| friends are to be set to work. if able.
| Thus they who are inclined to keep this
| fast IN literal manner are relieved of q
| heavy draft upon their purse strings. An
'Iftar" or Ramadan dinner Ia ceremonious
and absorbs much time. AS soon as the
sun approaches the western horizon a
| large circular tray IS brought in covered
with variety of sweetmeats, salads, salt
| fish, Ramadan cakes, fruits and olives,
together with delicious sherbet. When
the sunset gun is fired every one takes an
olive, that fruit being the most blessed,
with which to break the fast. After par
taking Of these appetizers dinner is
brought in, which consists Of eight or ten
courses, each tasted sparingly. Then
dainty cups Of coffee and cigarettes follow.
After this the faithful are supposed to re-
pair to mosques for devotion.
AIinarets as well as mosques are all
brilliantly lighted and throngs Of worship
ers fiji the spacious buildings The
streets, too, are bright as day and as gay
as a carnival season, especially those of
Stamboul, which is, per Sc, the Turkish
quarter Of the capital. Here you not
oaly find the mosques and bazars IL
Illuminated, but the fruit and refreshment
shops as well, for eating, drinking sherbet
and smoking are the order of the evening,
together with no small amount of flirta-
| tions, for now the Turkish beauty is
| granted unusual liberty. Very few, how
ever, are seen among the pedestrians, but
hundreds of fine carriages are found cut
| ting their way though the dense throng
| filled with yelled ladies who go abroad to
see and be seen-not to worship, for they
arc excluded from the mosque at this
season. The Turks excuse this injustice
| by saying they would divert their
Thoughts from holy contemplation, as
their beauty inspires a different kind Of
worship.
The last Friday Of Ramadan is the most
sacred of all the Moslem Sabbaths. 1t
| il thea that the great Mosque of st.
l Sophia IL most crowded with true believ-
ers, and the Giaour (Christian) is care
fully excluded. A liberal stbachshees, =
however, secured for oar party IN en-
| trance through back door and along q
| dimly lighted tunnel, built in the massive
outer wall, to q lofty gallery, from which
| the thousands Of worshipers on the floor
| beneath The great dome looked like pig
1 mics, and their voices, as they chanfed in
/ unison verses from the Koran, came up 10
/ Us like the roar Of old ocean In a storm
/ But more impressive still was the perfect
1 harmony Of motion-When some 5000
| PROSTATE worshipers rose to their feet.
/ then bowed again to the dust, the eject