Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-29

badly set but always genuine and OF great
value. There is legend in Algiers that
the hidden riches OF the wealthier Arabs,
principally comprising jewels, exceeds the
sum total in value of all coin, plate and
Jewels otherwise possessed by all national
tiles in the white CITY"
OF the more than 100 mosques which for
merly existed in the city of Algiers, only
five now remain The most interesting of
these are Diamaa el-Kebir, the Grand
MOSQUE, in Rue de la Marine, Djamaa ell
Diedid, or the Fisher-place Mosque, also in
the Rue de la Marine, and the enchanting
little mosque of Djamaa Sidi Rhaman, over
looking the garden OF Marengo, aud taking
its name from the marabout, or Mohamme-
dan priest of most venerated memory, Sidi
Abd-el-Rhaman, who died in 1471 and is
inferred here within an inner sacred chapel
or khouba, surrounded by several Pachas
and Deys.
MEETING ON COMMON GROUND.
Two distinct and jealous sects, the Maleki
rite, and the Hanef rite, worship respective
ly at the Grand Mosque and the Fisher
place Mosque; while at the Sidi Mosque all
are on common ground; it is the shrine of
the more aristocratic Moslems; and on Ger
tain DAYS of the week it is throDged with
men and women, the latter, from an old and
lax custom, predominating. Indeed it is at
this little mosque, if reverence is assumed
and discretion exercised that one will secure
more glimpses of Arab women of the finer
type than offered by all other possible op-
portunities in Algiers.
The Fisher-place Mosque is enc of the
most striking buildings in Algiers, as you
approach the city from the Mediterranean.
1t has lofty central dome, a similar dome
at each of the four corners, and, at the north
west side lofty and graceful minaret 1t is
whitewashed to 6 dazzling whiteness, and
looms high and solemn over all other struc-
lures in this quarter, where the line between
old and new Algiers is so closely defined.
Near it is the Pecherie or fish market, from
whence the mosque derives its name, and at
all times of dav and night one will come up
on the swarthy toilers of the sea, 4 wild and
half naked set of splendid fellows, who in
weird looks and strange customs are the al
most exact prototypes of the Oriental pesca-
dores who will be found around the old ca
thedral square and the crumbling Bouquete
walls opposite Moro's frowning parapets at
Havana. The severity of the interior of this
mosque is even more marked than that of
the Grand Mosque in the Rue de la Marine.
The columns are draped with mating; the
floors are protected bv mating; and the gal
lery OF open woodwork is covered with a
somber coat of paint. All the windows are
tiny and high. The devotion of its worship
ers and the solemnity and quiet of the place
are something worthy of Christian peoples
attention.
A COURT OF JUSTICE.
At the left of this mosque, if the visitor
will ascend the steps and enter little door
always standing open in the daytime, there
will be found a curious court attachment.
Nearly a half dozen turbaned Arabs are
seated cross-legged upon a rug of mating.
They are silent, grave, mysterious. About
them are scattered score of huge open
books, the black characters of which show
them to be tones of record. This is lower
Arab court of Justice. All minor disputes
are settled here, and judgments are recorded
by cadi's secretary in the huge volumes
upon the floor. No woman is permitted to
come into the presence of this august
tribunal. She is penned within an adjoin-
ing cloistef-llke room, and gives her testi-
mony through a hole in the intervening
wall not as large as her own head.
The lovely though diminutive mosque of
Sidi Abd-el-Rhaman sets above the garden
of Marengo and overlooks the sea. Its sur
soundings are charming, and within its lit
tie cemetery are eucalyptus, mulberry and
fig trees shading the quaint old tombs. The
inner chapel is sort of shrine, from being
the burial place of numbers of Moslem
saints. Pachas and Deys, and a wondrous
number of sacred rites, emblems and carv-
ings, with lamps ostrich eggs, embroider-
les, grotesquely decorate the columns, walls
and hang from the ceilings. More than a
million francs have been expended on such
gifts and tokens.
BEAUTY AT HER DEvoTIoNs.
1t is in this little mosque that one will
see so many Arab women. Their glittering
silken haiks hide their faces, but there is a
constant atmosphere of perfume, an endless
tinkle of concealed and half-concealed
jewelry, continuous murmur of musical
voices in prayer, and ceaseless rustic of
attire as they come, go, or PROSTATE
in their devotions. The latter
are certainly solemn and impressive, whether
down among the old isher-folk, at the |
Grand Mosque with the Maleki rite or here
where the wealthy Arab men and women
come clad in the richest textures of the ORR |
ent and laden often with Jewels which !
would purchase kings ransom.
The Moslem must pray five times each
day. Each act of prayer begins with these
words from the Koran: "PraIse be to God,
the Lord of all creatures. the most mercilul,
the Lord of the day of Judgment! Thee do
we worship. We implore Thy aid. Direct
us in the right way" This and other pas
sages are repeated, led by the thalib, sacred
scholar and an old man, in the nature of
responses. The faces of all are toward the
east their Mecca. At each mention of the |
name of God every worshiper prostrates
himself so that seven parts of the body |
the head, hands, knees and feet-touch the |
sacred carpet together.
EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.