The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-10-01

PECULIAR INDIAN CUSTOMS.
nays On which Mohnn,m edans WiIA
N0t Bafhe-Freedom Of
Cattle.

Mohammendana Of India are very
superstitious. No Mohanmedan viii
take bath on Sunday Of Tuesday Put
ii one bathes on Wednesday all mis-
fortunes and misery that are in store for
him till next Wednesday viii be avert
ed. As rule all Mohammedans bathe
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 new dress or puts on a new
cloth or allows his tailor to cut q piece
of new cloth on these days he viii
live miserable life till that dress or
cloth gets torn or Is thrown away II
a shirt ~ torn and III the wearer wants
to stitch 1t, It must be taken cf, for Il
ii Is stitched while II Is on the body
the person win soon die. A Moham-
mednn VIII never allow a barber 70
come naar him on Tuesdays. for Tues
days and also Saturdays and Sundays
are bad days for shaving purposes II
absolutely necessary he win yet him.
self shaved on Saturday or Sunday,
bur never on Tuesday. as his star is
supposed to fall IA blood If he does 20.
| II one receives money Or some valu-
able thirg IT ID taken with The right
| hand. for II 1t IS taken with the left
| the person receiving II is said 70 for
get all aoout il very soon or TO mislay
1T A devout M0hammedan will not
start on q journey on Wednesday, for It
/ Is believed he will never return home
safely II he does 40. And II IL said that
even q snake never ventures ont Of It's
hole on this day
In Fez. the capital Of Morocco, most
OF the houses consist Of several stories,
each being provided with a light YER
anda running round II and connecting
the rooms All the Windows and doors
/ open out in the patio. or courtyard the
window openings Id the upper stories
being covered with close trelIis work
| An the houses have fiat roofs. with q
wall some four tO SIX feef nIgn rum
ming around, and from four p. ~ 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 sex
This reservation Is law which is
ueyer broken and no man would be
guilty "a being seen on hts or cn any
other roof during the forbidden hours.
Owing 10 the fact that tbs women of
the house are not allowed to be seen
by any other man than their lord and
master. all domestic Offices are situ-
ased away from the house proper IN
many of the larger houses. besides the
water fountains. others playing scent
or scented water ara to be found. Sec
tions Of the courtyard also are slightly
sunk and these portions are allied with
scented oil. which Is used 60 perfume
the rooms. The Moors are exception
ally particular Ia discarding their
f0otgear before entering room or
crossing rug Or carpet they even
change slippers before entering the
'courtyard from the street Thus the
houses are kept beautifully clean and
sweet and are not. as many people
would suppose. musy OF close
Few people travelling In India can
fail to notice the part played whether
tn the flesh Or It's representation. by
the COW and the OK Sacred cattle wan-
der unmolested and unmolesting
through the streets Of the cities, more
especially III The south. generally deco-
rated with garlands Of flowers: stone
'uandls." the bulls Of slvn. keep guard
before his temples and round his
tanks: they are portrayed in fresco or
10 carving on the walls Of many rock
cavern. Oxen turn mills plow the
land. are the drawers and carriers or
water ard. above all. are invaluable
for drawing loads Cattle. as Is well
known. are BY Hindoos held IN great
and superstitions reverence. Ganges
water poured ever cows tail being
equivalent to the kissing Of the
sacred book or taking an oath
Yet. unfortunately 'he draft bull
often receives very rough treat
ment al hls drivers hands. So long as
the animals life Is not taken ill-ntat-
meut counts as nothing among these
people who regard the hrutes as sacred.