The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-07-01
THE FAST OF RAMADAN
Sights and Scenes in Con-
stantinople.
THE VERY GOOD MUSSELMEN.
A Merry Time-The Ladies of the
Harem-Corsican Women-
STEAMBOAT at Night.
Correspondence of The HERALD.

Correspondence of THE HERALD.
you, as it was ordained unto those before
you that we may fear God. The month of
RamadsR shall ye fast, in which the Koran
was let down from heaven, direction unto
men, and declarations of direction, and the
distinction between good and evil -
Koran.
The great fast of Ramadan has been
observed here for one solid moon"
(Mohammedans use the old Jewish
connt,) so it may be known that many
peaked faced Musselmen mey be seen
now, the effects of self-denial. But do
not let it be understood that they score
the record of fast by total abstinence
one lunar month; no, they simply re-
verse their usual time of eating and eat
at night instead of the day.
But here let us take notice Of great
casuistic question. The Koran dis
tinctly says: Eat and drink until We
can plainly distinguish between a white
thread and black thread by the day
b eak;" but commentators have so
twisted and distorted its meaning that
now it is really not known by the differ
emit sects when they must stop german
dizlng. In Constantinople, they have
found q novel plan in deciding the dis
puted time. At about o'clock, Turk
ish time TURKS reckon shutdown II
o'clock, man goes over his allotted
district with that high-sounding instru-
ment, e big bass drum, and deliberately
beats all feasting land ears) to close.
ALL GOOD MUssELMEN
now abstain from all food, and the more
devout, from smoking also, from the
drum beat until shutdown the next day,
during which many pass the time in
sleep, but the aged men and more re
ligious read the book which they think
was carried down from the throne of
God to the lowest heaven by the angel
Gabriel, in the month OF Ramadan ;
from whence it was revealed to the
prophet Mohammed by parcels, at diff
ferent times, during the space of
twenty-three years. At shutdown the
next day, the shrewd may occasionally
get peep inside of a Turkish dom Gle
through q door left ajar, where NAV be
seen the deintIest of Turkish fare
spread before the household, they still
not partakiug thereof; they are waiting
for the salute from the cannons. Yes,
nobody could think of eating until it is
officially announced that all may par
take. AS the sun SINKS out of sight,
nF RI n
mea-of war below forth in mighty
walls of oar lovely Stamboul. Now the
ball opens IN more ways than one; from
the
MINARRTS OF THE MANY MOSQUES
tae khegha sing out for prayer, their
voices blending strangely with the dy-
ing vibrations of the grand salute fro II
the battlements. What singular feel
ing we experience as our thoughts are
drawn out in reflection on the many
modes of worship which a benevolent
Creator sees in His beings here below.
For few hours out of the twenty
four, the fasting PEOPLE now have a
merry time in their way, which way is
for the greater part eating. After their
home meal, the whole family, women
included, creep out from the harem to
walk about the principal streets in the
pleasant cool of the evening; along
which streets are placed long rows OF
chairs, forming open-air cafes with
waters to place before people the ever
ready coffee, hot from the mongol, OF
treat them with sherbet or the favorite
pipe-the narghille; either one, with
waiting, costs but 10 para Il cent,
Happy life in Turkey But The beg
gars-oh! these persistent beggars-
they never fail to make their appear
ance on the scene, promising that Allah
will give the men kara (women) if they
will only give them 10 para with which
to buy bread. 1t is cheap amusement
anyhow, and many Europeans come to
STEAMBOAT this month to take in the
pleasant life of the Turks; many come
also, to view the ladies of the harem
who are turned loose, apparently, this
holy month, or, at any rate, they enjoy
much fuller liberty than commonly.
Even Persian women may occasionally
be seen on the streets in care of a guard
a great privilege for them; but then
they must be closely yelled, which they
most assuredly are. they having but a
snail, embroidered aperture in their
yashmak through which to look.
Stamboul at nights, during the fast,
presents a truly panoramic aspect.
Fhe minarets of the many mosques are
gaily illuminated, many times Inscrip-
tons are made by me- IS Of numerous
little lanterns which gle between
their high slender form, .ne principal
streets are aglow with life, while on
either side are long rows of lights
placed out by the many cafes; quaint
bands ofmusic play in various quarters,
while men dance with men in odd step
to the noise they make; and, to gladden.
the whole scene, nature furnishes de-
lightful breezes from the lovely sea
which basks against the very walls of
the city.
But how about sick people, travellers
aud those who are lawfully detained
from the fast? Provisions arc kindly
made for them by the Koran; they can
turn in and fast another month in lieu
of the sacred month, and thus have q
chance to fast, which is better than
WHOLE STRING OF PRAYERS
in the sight of God.
When we consider that the fast of
Ramadan is fundamental principle OF
Islam (Mohammedans fasting two or
three other days only), it becomes u
theme worthy of reflection. 1t appears,
however, that Mohammed was not the