RELIGION AMONG THE PEOPLE OF ASIA MINOR. 



155 



Belief in the intercession of saints is a prominent article in 

 every Anatolian creed. Whether it be a relic from some era 

 of polytheism, or an instinctive groping for beings with human 

 sympathy and superhuman authority, or the result of some 

 other cause, worship especially in cases felt to be really critical 

 is frequently offered in the name and at the tomb or shrine of 

 some saint. The saint is supposed to have l^een once an 

 ordinary man, though of great sanctity, and now although dead 

 and buried is very much alive, active in the neighbourhood of his 

 sepulchre, merciful to his own people, who habitually worship 

 the Creator by his agency, possesses great inlluence with the 

 Almighty, is dangerous when offended, and his advocacy 

 may be enlisted by suitable prayers, sacrifices and ceremonies. 

 The site is often a high place ; usually there is a shady tree 

 at hand, or a thicket of bushes, and frequently a sacred spring 

 also. 



If a person is sick or maimed, fears a reverse or yearns for a 

 child, he offers his plea with or without sacrifice, at the village 

 shrine, or he goes a greater distance to a tomb of greater 

 reputation, or he seeks a saint who has the name of suiting his 

 particular need. The fall of an embankment or an old wall is 

 attributed to a saint's turning in his grave. No robbery or 

 other depredation may be committed there, and if a grove is 

 near by its trees cannot be cut. 



Some time ago the Governor of our city was on an expedition 

 in pursuit of robbers. When lie came to the region where they 

 had been operating, he stopped with his retinue at the tomb of a 

 saint, offered his petition, and vowed that if successful he would 

 sacrifice there on his return. When he came back with the 

 robber safely caught, he stopped again at the tomb and fulfilled 

 his vow by the sacrifice of a ram. Piri Baba, who lived " five 

 hundred, yes, six hundred years ago," said : " Let the redheads 

 [i.e. Shias] seek their right of me." So redhead Turks come 

 twenty days' journey to praise and pray at Piri Baba's tomb. 

 If only the sepulchre of Moses vrere known, what crowds would 

 have resorted thither, what structures would have been erected, 

 what ceremonies would have been elaborated ! 



Not long ago a Turk with a reputation for learning and piety 

 related to me how he was once sick unto death. The doctor 

 whispered at the door that he had consumption of the liver and 

 would die two hours before sunset. The sick man, writhing in 

 pain, determined to make one more effort for life. He rose and 

 staggered to a grave, in whose saint he had great confidence, and 

 there poured out his soul in prayer that if possible his life might 



