TO CONSTANTINOPLE. 113 
o^ January ; but upon the whole it is considered chap. 
as a rare occurrence. v, ..>,. ,> 
In a room adjoining our apartment, some 
Turks were engaged in their devotions; and, 
whenever we have seen them so occupied, 
whether in the mosques, or in the public 
streets, or in private dwellings, we always 
regarded them with respect ; for however we 
may be disposed to revile the Turkish religion, 
there is perhaps no Christian who might not find 
an example worthy of his imitation in the 
behaviour of a Moslem during his prayers. If 
we may judge of genuine piety by external 
appearances, the Moslems are, of all people, the 
most sincere in their worship. They are never 
seen inattentive during their prayers ; uttering 
words by rote, with their thoughts intent upon 
other matters, like many of those persons who 
pretend to hold a better faith : their whole soul 
seems to be absorbed in the solemnity of the 
exercise, and their thoughts so perfectly abs- 
tracted from every earthly consideration, that 
it is impossible to behold them without partici- 
pating the reverence they manifestly feel. But 
this behaviour may be attributed to the very 
great stress laid in their Koran upon the duties 
of prayer. Mohammed called it The Pillar of 
VOL. viir. I 
