The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-26

guarded by the Moslem code. The women
are not allowed to mingle with men, and
this is one Of the weaknesses Of Moham-
mechanism.
MoHAMMEDAN VIEW OF THE WEST.
In Mohammedan society the influence
OF women cunts for little, and as a result
the followers OF Islam are sluggards in in
tellectual pursuits. In the Philippines the
Mohammedans form the lowest stratum
of the population; in lava they are just
awakening to the necessity for education;
in India they are behind the Hindu and still
further behind the Parsee; in Egypt they
bring up the rear, as they do also in Syria
and Palestine. Only where they have
come into contact with Christian c~iviliza-
| ton have they been stimulated to the dis
cussion Of schools and questions OF gov
eminent.
1t must be admitted, however, that some
| OF tho customs Of Europe and America
have tended to prejudice the followers
Of Mohammed against Western civilization.
One who was In attendance at q banquet
given during the recent Morocco confer
ence told me Of the establishment Of some
OF the Mohammedan representatives at
what they saw. When the ladies appeared
In evening dress they, remembering the
yelled ladies OF their own land, asked:
80 your women always dress this wey?'
When wine was brought on, they asked:
DO all your people drink wine?'
And when after the dinner dancing
began they asked:
DO the woman dance with their W
husbands only?'
The answers to some Of these inquiries
seemed to astonish them.
DANCING pERvIsHEs.
There are several Mohammedan sects,
some known as dervishes. There are
dancing dervishes and bowling dervishes.
We saw the latter variety at one Of their
weekly meetings.
The members recite in concert: 'God
is great" their voices rising al they warm
up; they bend over and sway to and fro
until they are exhausted. There la Q fort OF
weird melody about their chant, and their
endu nee Is surprising.
We watched them for half an hour and
they bent almost double. going through
his motion from thirty to forty times per
minute. At the cloee OF the exercises Tor
p~erformance) the priest walked over the
bodies of several children to heal them!
Whll0 amm6uanls as osUapnsneQ
by it's founder, still holds the allegiance
OF many SCORES Of millions, influencing
them for good In many respects and Tor
evil in some; while these orthodox followers
Of the Prophet kneel at stated hours each
day and pray toward Mecca, all Of them
who have not done 90. hoping to make the
pilgrimAge commanded Of them-while
these are keeping the letter Of the Koran,
there Is a reform at work which may yet
leaven the whole lump.
A MoHAMMBDAN REFoEMER.
Abbss Efendi. now a political prisoner
at Aka, In Palestine, Is the head Of the
reform movement. He was born In Persia,
and is carrying on the work to which his
father and grandfather devoted their lives.
He disoards force a. q means Of propa-
eating truth, and while he does not conn.,
mand monogamy. has set the example
by having. but one wife. While Abbas
EaYendi's father preached moral s~uasion.
his followers were charged with revolution
AIRY designs and the family was killed.
After remaining a time ut CONSTANT
nople under the surveillance Of the Sultan
the reform leaders were removed 10 Aka,