g08 Translation of the Mohit, [Oct, 



called that of the eight stars. They fancy it to be like a drunken camel 

 which is roaming every day in a different direction. For example, on 

 the 1,11, and 21 of the Turkish month it appears in the east ; on the 

 2, 12, and 22 between east and south in the point of compass 

 which the Turkish mariners call Kashisklama 2 *' (S. E.) ; on the 3, 13, 

 23, it is seen on the south ; on the 4, 14, 24, on the point Lados 2 * 

 S. W. ; on the 5, 15, 25, it is seen on the west; on the 6, 16, 26 

 between west and north, on the point of compass called Karayal** 

 N. W.; on the 7, 17, 27, it is seen on the north; on the 8, 18, 28 

 between north and east on the point of the compass called Boreas" 

 N. E.; on the 9, 19, 29 it is underneath the earth ; on the 10, 20, 30, 

 above it. It should be remembered that the beginning of the Turkish 

 month is not from the sight of the crescent, but from the meeting of 

 sun and moon (or true conjunction) which happens sometimes one 

 and sometimes two days before the first of the Arabic month (the 

 beginning of which is calculated from the sight of the new moon) : if 

 you know this take care not to undertake a voyage on that very same 

 day of the conjunction of sun and moon ; the masters of the Indian 

 seas are particularly careful about it. 



Of the circle of the men of the mystic world***. 

 Shekh Mohiyuddi'n ul-Arabi' has fixed the places in which the 

 men of the mystic world are to be found on each day of the month ; 



* It might be supposed that the two separate superstitions described by Sidi Alj 

 were merely different versions of the same story ; for the Indian yogini ijlfjlif* 

 or wandering fairy which he states to be the same as the najm u'zojl or circle of 

 the constellations, is by all other authors identified with the rijdl nl ghaeb or 

 invisible beings. The positions of the yogini however correspond only with the 

 latter ; and 1 am assured by a Persian friend that the Turkish * starry circle,* 

 called also sakfo yaldaz is quite distinct from the other : he points it out in the 

 constellation of Cassiopeia, to one of the stars of which he gives the name of 

 ndqeh or camel. (See Obs. on Arabic Compass, vol. V. p. 792.) 



This constellation being situated as near the pole as Ursa major will be seen, 

 in northern latitudes, like the latter performing a complete circuit round the pole ; 

 whence probably has arisen the fable of both their wanderings, but though the 

 circuit will be repeated in 24 hours nearly, it can have no reference whatever to 

 the moon's revolutions. 



In Dr. Herklot's Qanoon-e-Isldm, page 395, will be found a full explana- 

 tion with diagrams of the mode of finding the lucky and unlucky aspects as prac- 

 tised by the Musalmans, who merely regard the day of the new moon, not 

 the exact time of conjunction, and have further adopted a fixed scale of 

 portions for the days of the week. But to exhibit the orthodox version 



