DEVOTIONS IN THE MOSQUE. 
455 
fervours of their rites and prayers; though seldom failing to 
break the strain of the latter now and then, to connect the 
thread of some discourse commenced during preparation for the 
several acts of devotion. These holy Osmanlees seemed most 
strictly to go through all the exacted ceremonies. First making 
their ablutions, then nicely combing their beards, then taking off 
their rings and other metal ornaments, and tucking up their 
sleeves as high as their elbows, they deem themselves prepared 
for supplication. The next step is to discover the direction of 
the kaba of Mecca, towards which they place themselves erect, 
with their eyes cast downwards, and their hands flat on their 
sides. After a low unintelligible mumble or two, these ex¬ 
tremities are suddenly raised towards the face, with spread 
fingers, and held like the open leaves of a book, out of which 
the devotee affects to read, while he gabbles in a monotonous 
nasal tone a long prayer. A short pause ensues, when he as 
suddenly drops his hands, and falls on his knees ; then com¬ 
mences the violence of supplication, in loud sounds and rapid 
vociferations ; while his action corresponds, continually touching 
the ground with his forehead, and at the end of every period 
uttering Al hum de lillo! Al hum de lillo! “ God be praised !” &c. 
When these duties were over, the countenances of the men, old 
and young, bore a manly grave expression, and the air of their 
persons was strikingly simple and warlike. My Sulimanian 
mehmandar told me, I was indebted for the intrusion of so 
many to their curiosity to see the Frangy stranger; a sight that 
seldom makes its appearance in the wilds of Courdistan ; and 
before I left my menzil, I found his report true, the mosque 
filling with such crowds, “ to stare, instead of pray,” I was 
obliged, at all risks, to require him to disperse them. 
