The Red Cloud chief., 1888-02-10
II RAMApAN A



4 Meath Which 1aitAf.i Assieas spe.A
n fFoyoe aaA Rnssias.
Ramadan-,hat terrible month oe
Of daily fasting and mighty feastins-
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 Is. Rama
dan began and continued throughout
the lunar month. The origin q: this
long fast seems shrouded in mystery.
As it is said to have been observed By
ne fre-worshipers long before Mshomes
Ali. who thought the command "a all
true believers To fast thus eleven
months in the year WAS quite o much
to require Of mortal desh; through the
Angel Gabriel he therefore beSOught the
Great Sp;ri: to reduce the time one
hall. Finding this still a heavy trial.
he again ip,ercedei and got the time
fixed at one lunar month. where it
still remains. and no doubt thousands
of Mohamedans ardently wish the time
much more reducet. By the more ill.,
telliSen: class i, is less relisously
observed each passing year. but to the
piOus peasantry j: still means real
penance, IS they faithfully abstain
from food. drink. and even from the
use Of tobacco. during the entire day.
Even the ..Hamals' (who arc the real
beasts Of burden here) are 90 CON
scientious about keeping this fast
that with every nerve quivering with
fatigue. and in torment with hunge,
they viii stand with = tempting nOr.
eel in hand watching the declining
sun patiently waiting until the sunset
gon: is heard. then devour it in beast
like hssse. In homes Of xfauence the
dsvoutly inclined sis 1t their tables.
with fork Or spoon in hand. waiting
also for the welcome boom Of cannon
before they can begin their nightly
feastins. As = rule. they turn night
into day and vice versa Still it il
supposed some sleep is indulged in. a.
precisely At twelve O'Clock . patrol
passes through each street with .
large drum, bent upon awakening al
sleepers to . midnight feast. which
may be prolonged until the morning
twilight Then the mouth must be
carefully clcansed and the fast re-
sumed.
When the luxurious liver feels con-
strained to observe this fast he is said
TO resor to many ingenious devices to
allay suffering One Of the most sue.
cessful has been . pill Of opium.
wrapped in one. two and three. OF
more coverings OF GOLD foil, ali to be
swallowed before retiring. As these
coverings are gradually dissolved. the
opium holds them for long hours in
the desired oblivion. 1t is now said
that but few OF the aristocracy Of
Turkey pay any heed to this fast still
they dare no. publicly disregard it.
The Snltan il credited with setting an
example Of strict observance. II he
do+s so literally. he mus: neither eat,
drink nor smoke during the long sum-
mer day. Even to indulge in = de-
lish.ful and refreshing perfume is sin.
This month Of fasting is supposed
to be . revival season" TO the Mos
lens in which they are to devote much
time to the study Of the Koran. Hos
pis~lity. AlmSSivins. prayer and
reacefulness are t. be especially
cultivated. You hear Of the rich man
standing ut his door at sunset to salute
and invite to his table the poor who
happen 70 pass by. sending them on
their way rejoicing in presents Of
money; but you see little Of this to-
day.-CoS. San Francisco Cayoaick.