284. Phyfical and Mifcellaneous 



which they perform the feveral Stations, Sittings and Proftra- 

 tions that are enjoyned in their Rehgion. Near the Middle, 

 particularly of the principal Mofque of each City, there is a 

 large Pulpit erefted, which is balluftraded round, with about 

 half a dozen Steps leading up to it. Upon thefe (for I am told 

 none are permitted to enter the Pulpit) the Mujti or one of 

 the Im-ams placeth himfelf every Friday, The (!^*=F-V|y) 2)^ 

 of the Congregation, as they call it, and from thence either ex- 

 plaineth fome Part or other of the Coran, or elfe exhorteth 

 the People to Piety and good Works. That End of thefe 

 Mofques,'^\i\ch regards Mecca, whither they dire6l themfelves 

 throughout the whole Courfe of their Devotions, is called the 

 Kthlah \ in which there is commonly a Nich, reprefenting, 

 as a judicious Writer^ conjectures, the Prefence, and, at the 

 fame Time, the Invifibility of the Deity. There is ufually a 

 fquare Tower eredled at the other End, with a Flag-Staff upon 

 the Top of it. Hither the Cryer afcends at the appointed 

 Times, and, difplaying a fmallFlag, advertifeth the People, 

 with a loud Voice, from each Side of the Battlements, of the 

 Hour of Prayer. Thefe Places of the Mahometan Worfhip, 

 together with the Mufti, Im-ams^ and other Perfons belonging 

 to them, are maintained out of certain Revenues ' arifmg from 

 the Rents of Lands and Houfes, either left by Will or fet apart 

 by the Pubhck for that Ufe. 

 How they con- Whcu auyPetfon is to be buried, it is ufual to bring the Corpfe, 

 Funerals! at the Mid-day or Afternoon Prayers, to one or other of thefe 

 Mofques, from whence it is accompanied, by the greateft Part 

 of the Congregation, to the Grave. Their Proceffions, at thefe 

 Times, are not fo flow and folemn as in moft Parts of Chriften- 

 dom; for the whole Company make what Hafte they can, 

 linging, as they go along, fome feleft Verfes of their Coran, 

 That abfolute Submiflion which they pay to the Will of God, 

 allows them not to ufe any confolatory Words upon thefe Oc- 

 cafions : no Lofs or Misfortune is to be hereupon regretted or 



I i. e. The Church or Place where the People meet together, fo called from c^s^ collegit, 

 congrcgavit &c. When there are feveral Molques in one City, the largcjl is calkcTthe Jimmah, 

 and fometimes. El Jimmah Kibeerah, the Great or Mother Church, in which their PubHck.De- 

 votions, ScQ. are iifuallj performed on Fridays. 2 from J.aS e regione oppofitus fuit &c. Vid. 

 Go/. & Not. p. 32. ^ yid. MaundreU's joutn. tojertifalem. p.ij- 4 pl..^!, 7- ?«i»», £«•<»»;, 

 or Im-aiu Praefes, Anteceffor, quem alij fedantur ac imitantur: peculiariter qui prasit populo 

 facros rinis & facrorum antiftes. Vid Got. in voce, j Thefethey call [^^Aaa-J Hab-oufe, 

 i.e. Things fet apart for pious , ufe s. 



com- 



