PERSIAN CUSTOMS. 
241 
The ordinances of the Koran oblige its followers to pray at 
least five times a day ; an injunction which the eminently pious 
mussulman obeys with the most scrupulous exactness. The 
first matin-service compels the devotee to rise before dawn. He 
begins by performing, with his right hand, all the holy ablutions. 
He then unrolls his carpet, and disposes it so, that one end of it 
may face, as nearly as he can guess, the direction of Mecca. "To 
that point he is to address his petitions. He kneels down on 
the carpet, placing his hands in front of his breast, with the 
palms closed together. In this attitude his orisons commence, 
and generally in a mumbling tone, while at intervals he touches 
the ground, or rather carpet, with his forehead. His fast is 
broken by a cup of bitter coffee, a few sugar-plumbs, sweetmeats, 
and a kalioun. About mid-day the second prayer is said ; after 
which the good mussulman may safely satisfy his appetite with 
a little more substantial fare. Towards afternoon, a third pros¬ 
tration, and mumbling, takes place ; and as soon as the sun 
sets, the fourth commences. An hour after that is finished, 
dinner is served ; the meal of greatest luxury, and of longest 
duration, in this country. The fifth, and last holy office of the 
day, is left to the discretion of the person, so that it is done 
before he retires to rest for the night. 
When we calculate the number of hours which a man has at 
his command, by this early rising, and far from haste to bed, we 
cannot but admire the advantage such a habit bestows on the 
man of business, or of study. Persons employed in public 
service here, receive their visitors, or applicants, from sun-rise 
till ten or eleven in the forenoon ; at which hours they adjourn 
to the palace to transact affairs of state, and be ready for any 
conference with the Prince. The absence of His Royal Highness 
i i 
VOL. i. 
