88 BULLETIN 148, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



the use of the subha, as an instrument of prayer, was in vogue only 

 among the lower classes and looked down upon by the theologians 

 and higher classes. When the pious ascetic Abu al-Kassim al- 

 Gunejd (died 279 A. H. — 909 A. D.), was found with a rosary and 

 expostulated with, since he "belonged to the better world," he apolo- 

 gized with the words, "I could not renounce an object which was the 

 means of bringing me nearer to God." Even in the seventh century 

 A. H. — thirteenth A. D. — Abu Abdallah Mammed al-Abdari, called 

 Ibn al-Hajj (died 737 A. H. — 1336 A. D.), complains over the exag- 

 gerated use and esteem of the suhha as being contrary to the primitive 

 simplicity of Islam. 



The Wahhabis, followers of the reformer, Abd al-Wahhab, who 

 opposed all practices not sanctioned by the Koran and tradition 

 (see p. 76), regard the rosary as an abomination and count the names 

 of God on their fingers. 



76. Rosary. — Consisting of 100 globular beads made of olive 

 wood, divided into three sections by two vase, or bottle-shaped 

 beads. The two ends of the string pass through the hundredth 

 bead, then through a fusiform or spindle-shaped tube, and lastly 

 through two smaller beads, terminating in a green tassel. Cairo, 

 Egypt. (Cat. No. 155166, U.S.N.M.) 



77. Rosary. — Consisting of 97 beads made of blood stones, with 

 two dividing beads of chalcedony. Between the ninth and tenth 

 beads from one end of the string an oblong rectangular piece of 

 chalcedony is inserted, probably to complete, with the two dividers, 

 the number 100. The string terminates in a tassel of silk and gold 

 thread tied with an artistic knot. Syria. (Cat. No. 179075, 

 U.S.N.M.) 



78. Rosary. — Consisting of 91 beads made of horn. On either 

 side of the two dividing beads, which are vase-shaped and inlaid 

 with silver dots, are three coral beads, and at either end of the string 

 two coral and one amber bead. The ends of the string pass through 

 two small beads of horn and a fusiform tube, terminating in a green 

 tassel. Syria. (Cat. No. 179075, U.S.N.M.) 



79. Rosary. — Consisting of 102 beads made of composition, alter- 

 nating three brown-colored and one, somewhat larger, black. Mon- 

 astery of Mount Sinai, Syria. (Cat. No. 154561, U.S.N.M.) Gift 

 of Mrs. Layyah Barakkah. 



80. Rosary. — Consisting of 102 beads made of black wood, divided 

 into three sections by two beads of bone. The ends of the string are 

 passed through an oblong piece of slate. Paris, France. (Cat. No. 

 76709, U.S.N.M.) 



81-83. TTiree rosaries. — Consisting each of 99 beads made of olive 

 wood, divided by bottle-shaped beads, the ends of the string pass 

 through four beads with an oblong fusiform bead between them. 



