The Moors; A Comprehensive Description (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ...of Ramadan (Lailat er-Ramadan) the evidence of twelve Muslims is required to prove that the new moon has been seen, before the fast can be proclaimed, which is also the case at its termination. Either is announced in towns by the firing of cannon, which are echoed by guns in the villages, through which the firing rapidly carries the news to a distance. In towns, too, the firing is followed by the blowing of long, straight trumpets (nafeer). Any day during the month, at the moment when the sunset gun fires, people may be seen running about the streets carrying basins of gruel and soup from house to house, handing them one to another as they pass rjj along. Hearty cheers and the ringing voices of children rise from every Muslim house and street the moment the welcome "boom" is heard. The Moorish coffee-houses are soon filled with hungry men and boys, eager for some light refreshment and a cigarette. A little later they partake of the future, or breakfast, which is usually as plentiful as their means will allow. Then comes the time of prayer, when the mosques are lighted up; but public worship is not well attended. Immediately after the usual 'asha prayers there special. an additional service called tashfia, at which Services.' the Koran is read, and the two regular rika'hs or series of prayers are repeated. Sometimes two divisions (hizab) of the Koran are read each night, in order to go through the whole in the month: sometimes it is finished on the twenty-seventh. At the conclusion of this service, which may last an hour--about 11.45 p-m---the trumpets and oboes (ghaitah) are sounded by special men from the mosque towers, and the doors are shut till the suhur or second meal-time. Coffee-houses remain open nearly all night, and...