DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5827#0205
BAUER.
169
Like a pious Mussulmaun, the brave descendant of
Timiir Beg turned his face towards the holy city, and
put up a prayer for his success in the approaching
conflict.
Nothing can be more regular than the Mohamme-
dans in general are in conforming to the ceremonial
observances of their worship. In India you will fre-
quently observe a grave votary of the Arabian Pro-
phet, with his long lean visage, black bushy beard,
and angular frame, seated before the door of a musjid
offering up his prayers, while the vacant expression
of his features betrays the utter absence of devotion
from his heart. He is to be seen on the eastern side
of the mosque, sitting upon a piece of striped carpet
called a satringee, to imply that he is something supe-
rior to the common mass of his fellow-worshippers,
who rest themselves upon the bare earth. His carpet
is spread upon a chabutra, a frame raised several inches
from the ground, which is brought and removed by an
attendant. There is always much less of humility
than of pomp in this " eye-service," as it has been
most expressively designated by a sacred writer.
According to their law, Mussulmauns are obliged to
pray regularly five times a day,—at dawn, at noon,
between noon and sunset, at sunset, and about an hour
and a half after the sun has disappeared. When the
worshipper prays before a mosque, he tucks his legs
under him, as it is considered a mark of irreverence to
show the feet.
Among his troops, the Emperor of Delhi had a great
number of mercenaries; but they were so irregular-
ly paid, that a general dissatisfaction pervaded their
Q
169
Like a pious Mussulmaun, the brave descendant of
Timiir Beg turned his face towards the holy city, and
put up a prayer for his success in the approaching
conflict.
Nothing can be more regular than the Mohamme-
dans in general are in conforming to the ceremonial
observances of their worship. In India you will fre-
quently observe a grave votary of the Arabian Pro-
phet, with his long lean visage, black bushy beard,
and angular frame, seated before the door of a musjid
offering up his prayers, while the vacant expression
of his features betrays the utter absence of devotion
from his heart. He is to be seen on the eastern side
of the mosque, sitting upon a piece of striped carpet
called a satringee, to imply that he is something supe-
rior to the common mass of his fellow-worshippers,
who rest themselves upon the bare earth. His carpet
is spread upon a chabutra, a frame raised several inches
from the ground, which is brought and removed by an
attendant. There is always much less of humility
than of pomp in this " eye-service," as it has been
most expressively designated by a sacred writer.
According to their law, Mussulmauns are obliged to
pray regularly five times a day,—at dawn, at noon,
between noon and sunset, at sunset, and about an hour
and a half after the sun has disappeared. When the
worshipper prays before a mosque, he tucks his legs
under him, as it is considered a mark of irreverence to
show the feet.
Among his troops, the Emperor of Delhi had a great
number of mercenaries; but they were so irregular-
ly paid, that a general dissatisfaction pervaded their
Q