80 BULLETIN 148, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



at stated hours, the Mohammedan is obliged to offer prayer. All 

 prayers must be addressed to Mecca, the sacred city of the Moham- 

 medans. In the mosques the mihrah, that is, a niche or slab in the 

 center of the wall, indicates the direction of Mecca. Wealthy and 

 cultivated Mohammedans carry with them a rug or mat, showing 

 this direction, on which they perform their devotions. Constanti- 

 nople, Turkey. (Cat. No. 155091, U.S.N.M.) 



27-28. Two prayer mats. — Made of fiber. Bakuba Tribe, Congo^ 

 Africa. (Cat. No. 174604, U.S.N.M.) 



29. Mohammedans at prayer. — Wood cut, framed, illustrating some 

 of the attitudes assumed by. Mohammedans while at prayer. The 

 principal attitudes are: 1. Standing, with the hands on either side 

 (niyah); 2. Inclination of the head and body and placing the hands 

 on the knees (ruku); 3. Dropping on the knees {tdkrihu al-slidah); 

 4. Then raising the head and body and sinking backward on the 

 heels (talchir-i-jalsah) ; 5. Kneeling and turning the head first to the 

 right and then to the left {salam). Height, 11 inches; width, 24 

 inches. (Cat. No. 155170, U.S.N.M.) 



30. Ewer and hasin. — Brass. Used for ablutions. Ablution 

 (Arabic, wazu) is absolutely necessary as a preparation for the 

 recital of the liturgical form of prayer, and is described as "the half 

 of faith and the key of prayer." The worshipper washes his hands to 

 the elbows, rinses his mouth, cleans his nostrils, washes his face, his 

 beard, ears, neck, and his feet as high as the ankles. The ablution of 

 each part of the body is accompanied by a special prayer. When 

 water can not be procured, or would be injurious to health, the 

 ablution may be performed with dust or sand. This ceremony is 

 called Tayammum. Beirut, Syria. (Cat. No. 154464, U'S.N.M.) 



31. Scenes and rites of tlie pilgrimage to Mecca.i — Print. The 

 pilgrimage to Mecca {Hajj) is the last of the five "pillars" of Mo- 

 hammedan practical religion. Every Moslem of either sex has to 

 perform the pilgrimage at least once in the course of his life. Insane 

 persons, slaves, and women who have no husband or near relative to 

 accompany them, are exempted from the obligation. So also sickness 

 and inability to stand the expenses of the journey relieve one from the 

 obligation. Such must expiate by fasting or almsgiving. The legal 

 date for performing the pilgrimage is in first half of the month 

 Dhu al-Hijjah, which is the twelfth month of the Mohammedan year. 

 As the Mohammedan year is lunar, the hajj runs in time through all 

 seasons. Upon approaching the sacred precinct of Mecca, which 

 embraces a circuit of 2 miles on all sides of the city, the pilgrim 

 takes off his ordinary dress and assumes the pilgrim's garb, called 

 ihram, which consists of two pieces of cloth, one being tied around the 

 loins, the other thrown over the shoulder. Head, arms, and feet 

 must be bare, though sandals are permitted to those incapable of 



