The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-10-08
PECULIAR INDIAN CUSTOMS.
Days on which MohRmmedans WIN
Not nathc--Freedam Of
Cattle.

LAtttts
Mohammendana OF India are very
superstltlous. No Mohammedan wii
take a bath on Sunday or Tuesday. Bul
n one bathes on Wednesday all mis-
fortunesand misery that arc In store foI
him TIL next Wednesday will bo avert
ed. "A rule all Mohammedans baths
on Fridays before going 70 perform the
jumma prayers. for donning new
clothes Saturday. Sunday and Tuesday
arc regarded as bad days II anyone
dons q new dress or puts on q new
cloth or allows his tailor 30 cut piece
OF new cloth on these days he will
live a miserable life I'll that dreas oI
cloth gets torn or he thrown away. II
a shirt 10 torn and II the wearer wants
90 stitch Il, II must b. taken on. for II
Il Ia stitched while Il is ON the body
the person win soon die A Moham-
medan win never allow barber %
come near him on Tuesdays. for Tues
days and also Saturdays and Sundays
are had days for shaving purposes II
absolutely necessary he win get him
self shaved on Saturday or Sunday
but never on Tuesday. as his star la
supposed to fall in blood II he does 90
II one receives money or some valu-
able thing Il IL taken with the right
hand. for II II is taken with the left
the person receiving II is said TO for
get oil about II very soon or to uislay
t. A devout Mohammedan win not
start on journey on Wednesday. for II
Is believed he win never return home
safely II he does SO. And Il Is said that
even a snake never ventures out Of rs
hole on this day.
In Fez. the capital OF Morocco. most
OF the houses consist OF several stories
each being provided with light YER.
anda running round II aud connecting
the rooms All the windows and doors
open ont IN the patio. OF courtyard. the
window openings in the upper stories
being covered with close trells work
All the houses have fiat roofs. with Q
wall some four 20 six feet high run
ming around. and from four .. m until
sunset the roofs are given over to the
ladies exclusively who can than walk
about and take The fresh air without
being seen by any Of the opposite rex
This reservation Is a law which Is
never broken and no man would be
guilty OF being seen on his or on any
other roof during the forbidden hours
Owing 20 tho fac, that the women OF
the house are not allowed TO be scei,
by any other man than their lord and
master, all domestic oHlcea are sitn-
nted away from the house proper In
many OF the larger houses. besides the
wnter fountains. others playing scent
or scented water arc 10 be found See
tions OF the courtyard also are slightly
sunk rid these portions are filled with
scented OIL which is used 70 perfume
the rooms The Moors are exception.
ally particular IN dlscarding theil
fooigear before catering 9 room oi
cpossing q rug or carpet. they ever
change slippers before entering tbs
courtyard from the street Thus ths
houses are kept beautifully clean ans
sweet and are not. as many people
would suppose. musty OF close
Few people travelling in India car
fail 20 notice the part played, whether
IN the flesh or It's representation. b.
the COW and the OK Sacred cattle wan.
der unmolested and unmolestinp
Through the streets Of the cities, more
especially in the south. generally deco
rated with earlands of flowers. stone
''nsudia." the bulls Of silva, keep guard
before his temples and round his
tanks: they are portrayed IN fresoo OF
In carving on the walls Of many rock
cavern. Oxen turn mills. plow the
land. are the drawers and carriers Of
water and. above ell are Invaluable
for drawing loads Cattle. as is well
known. are BY Hindoos held In great
and superstltlons reverence. 0anges
water poured over q eow's tail helms
equivalent TO the kissing Of ths
sacred book or taking an oath
Yet. unfortunately The draft hui
often receives very rough treat
ment at his drivers hands So long a
the animals life Il not taken lll-ireat
ment counts "a nothing among thess
people who regard the brutes as sacred