OBJECTS OF RELIGIOUS CEREMONIAL 79 



3. Mosque in Sumatra. — Model of gilt brass in form of a pyramidal 

 pagoda. Sumatra is one of the large islands of the Indian Archi- 

 pelago. The bulk of the population belongs to the Malayan race. 

 Its civilization is largely of Hindu origin. In the sixth century A. D. 

 Buddhism made its way into Sumatra. From the thii'teenth to the 

 fifteenth century Mohammedan influence prevailed, and at present 

 Mohammedanism is generally professed in the coast districts and 

 also to a great extent in the interior. Sumatra is at present under 

 Dutch control. Height, 6K inches. Kepahiang, Benkulen, Sumatra. 

 (Cat. No. 331234, U.S.N.M.) Gift of Doctor Goelam. 



4-13. Ten Mosque Tablets. — Inscribed in gold letters on a black 

 ground, in carved, gilt frames. 



Among the decorations of the interior of a mosque are tablets or 

 signs, artistically inscribed with the names of God, the prophet, and 

 of the first four caliphs, and with passages from the Koran. 21}^ by 

 21K inches. Constantinople, Turkey. (Cat. No. 154984, U.S.N.M."^) 



14. Mosque lamp. — A float lamp chandelier, having 13 green glaze 

 pottery cups hung in chains from the points and angles of a frame 

 made by superimposing two equilateral triangles of strap brass. 

 Each lamp is hung immediately from a disk supported by fiat cast 

 brass 2-headed birds. One lamp is in the middle and a little higher 

 than the others. Height, 20}^ inches. Morocco, North Africa. 

 (Plate (upper) 29.) 



15. Mosque lamp. — A float lamp. Glass receptacles set in a brass 

 frame, and the light is produced from wicks inserted in floaters. 

 Morocco, North Africa. (Cat. No. 154458, U.S.N.M.) 



16. Mosque folding lamp. — -Of brass and parchment. It is hung at 

 the entrance of mosques at feasts. Persia. (Cat. No. 154463, 

 U.S.N.M.) 



17. Candlestick. — Persian brasswork. It is usually placed in the 

 mihrah, the niche in the wall which marks the direction of Mecca (the 

 Eihla), before which the imam takes his position when he leads the 

 congregation in prayer. Persia. (Cat. No. 154459, U.S.N.M.) 



18-23. Six mosque candles. — ^Made of wax and set in clay bases. 

 Constantinople, Turkey. (Cat. No. 154985, U.S.N.M.) 



24. Piece of brocade. — Made of rose silk, yellow and gold wire, and 

 interwoven with ornamental Arabic inscriptions. Perhaps cover of 

 the pulpit (mimbar), in the mosque. Length, 72 inches; width, 24 

 inches. Constantinople, Turkey. (Cat. No. 155165, U.S.N.M.) 



25. Mosque door TcnocTcer. — Made of brass. Engraved with the 

 words: "May God open." Syria. (Cat. No. 155159, U.S.N.M.) 



26. Prayer rug. — Prayer (salat) is the second of the five founda- 

 tions or pillars of the Mohammedan religion, (the others being cere- 

 monial purification, fasting during the sacred month of Ramazan, 

 the pilgrimage to Mecca, and the legal poor tax). Five times daily, 



