San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-02-09

Devices OF Wealthy Mussuimen TO Escap
the DIscomforts OF Their Religion
The Bcggars Disposed of-In tho Grea
Mosque Of ST. Sophia.
i. Ramadan-that terrible month OF dali!
fasting and nightly feastng-is, like thu
: Chinese new year, governed by the moon
This year, precisely at the moment the
new moon became visible, the evening ol
} May %, Ramadan began and continued
} throughout the lunar month The origin
Of this long fast seems shroudcd In mys'
terry, ms II is said % have been observed
by the fire wOrshipers long before the
time OF Mah0met All, who thought the
) command 10 Nil true believers 10 fast thus
eleven months In the year was quite too
much 10 require Of mortal flesh; through
the Angel Gabriel he therefore besought
the great spirit 10 reduce the time one
half Finding this still heavy trial, he
again intcrceded and got the time fixed at
one lunar month, where IL still remains,
and no doubt thousands of Mohammedans
ardcntly wish the time much more re-
duced.
| by the more intelligent class it is less
relgiously observed each passing year,
but TO the pious peasantry it still means
real pennnce, as they faithfully abstain
from food, drink and even from the use
Of tobacco, during the entire day. Even
| the "Hamals" (who are the real beasts of
burden hereJ are so conscientious about
Keeping this fast, that, with every nerve
qilivcrug with fatigue, and in torment
with hunger, they will stand with
tempting morsel In hand watching the de-
clining sun, patiently waiting until the
sunset gong is heard, then devour II in
beast like haste. In homes OF affluence
the dcvoutly 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
n rule, they turn night into day and vice
versa Still it is supposed some sleep is
INDUCED in, US precisely ut II O'Clock
patrol passes through each street with a
large drum, bent upon awakening all
slecper3 to midnight feast, which may
he prolonged until the morning twilight.
Then the mouth must he carefully cleansed
md the fast resumed.
1t is now said that but few of the aris-
tocracy Of Turkey pay any heed to this
fast, still they dare not publicly disregard
II. The sultan is credited with setting an
example of strict observance. If he does
30 literally, he must neither eat, drink
nor smoke during the long summer day.
Even to indulge in n delightful and re-
freshing perfume Is sin.
This month of fasting is supposed to be
n "rcvival season" to the Mosems, 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 ut his door at sunset |
10 salute and invite to his table the poor |
who happen to pass by, sending them on |
heir way rejoicing in presents Of money, |
but you sec little of this today. On the
contrary, you may observe "the powers
hat be" take great pains to rid the city |
)f its swarms of beggars. Before Ramadan |
oenins the edict goes forth that all found
lsking aims in public thoroughfares shall
~ arrested. Those from the provinces
ire to he sent to their homes: those who
re found to have neither homes nor
riendS are to be set TO work, If able
Thus they who nrc inclined to keep this
asst IN literal manner are relieved of
leavy draft npnn their purse strings. An
'Iftar' or Ramndan dinner is ceremonious
nj absOrbs much time. As soon as the
I'm approaches the western horizon Il
argc circular tray is brought in covered
With variety of sweetmeatS, salads, salt
sh. Ramndan cakes, fruits and olives,
o9ethCr with delicious sherbct. When
he sunset gun is fired every one takes an
live, that frlit being the most blessed, !.
With which To break the fast. After par
ikint of these appctiZers dinner is
rought in, which consists OF eight or ten
CURSES, each tasted sparingly. Then
aiuty cups of coffee and cigarettes follow.
.fter this the faithful are supposed to re-
air to mosques for devotion
NIinnrcts as well rs mosques are all i
rilliahlly lighted and throngs of worship {
rs ill the spacious buildings. The {
treets, too, are bright rs day and as gay {
s carnival season, especially those of {
tambuul, which is, per Sc, the Turkish {
ulrtcr of tie capital. Here you not !
My find the mosques and bazars IL i,
minated, but the fruit and refreshment ,
hops as we'll for eating, drinking sherbet
nj smoking are the order of the evening,
Igether with no small amount of flirta-
ons, for now the Turkish beauty is ,
ranted unusual liberty. Very few, how J
yer, are seen among the pedestrians, but I
undrcds of fine carriages are found cut :
ng their way though the dense throng :
He'd with yelled ladies who go abroad to I
'e and he seen-not to worship, for they 1
&c excluded from the mosque at this :,
JASON. The Turks excuse this injustice .
y saying they would divert their q
loughtS from holy contemplation, as
leir beauty inspires different kind of
orship.
The last Friday of Ramadan is the most 4
lcred of all the Moslem Sabbaths. 1t 3
then that the great Mosque OF st.
pphia is most crowded with true believ- :
$, and the Giaour christian is care
lily excluded \ liberal "bachshees,"
)wcver, secured for oar party an en-
ance through back door and along n
My lighted tunnel, built in the massive
liter wall, To lofty gallery, from which
e thousands of worshipers on the floor
meath the great dome looked like pig
les, and their voices, as they chanted in
liSon verses from the Koran, came up TO
like the roar OF old ocean in n storm.
ut more impressive still was the perfect
lrmony OF motion-when some 1900
ostrGte worshipers rose to their feet,
en- bowed again 10 the dust, the effect
rs truly elcctrifying.-Cor San Fran
SEQ Chronicle.