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9.—Rh'amad'han, the honored month, 11th of Jan.

1st i. e. the

10.-Shaw'wa'l, Ist i. e. the

11. Zoo-1-Cka'adeh, or El-Cka'adeh,

1st i. e. the

12.-Zoo-1-Hheg'geh, or El Heg'geh, the

holy month, when the pilgrimage

21st of Feb.
23rd of March

During Leap Year, the latter has 30 days.

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The above varies from year to year, as relates to the seasons; because the Arabs do not reckon intercalary days, to make up the difference between the Lunar year and the Solar year; and thus the same month may occur in the spring, summer, autumn, or winter. From what I have stated, it appears that the modern Egyptians have no geographical knowledge; they are equally ignorant of the system of the universe: they conceive that the earth is a plain, surrounded or bound by two belts — the ocean, and a chain of lofty mountains-the mountains of Ckaf, the abode of Spirits which are constantly passing and repassing between Heaven and Earth; and if any man were so rash as to assert that we inhabit a ball which is in constant motion, turning on its own axis, and revolving about the sun, and that moreover, the latter is a fixed body, they would declare, with few exceptions, that his wits were disturbed, and that he ought to be looked after. Of course, they understand nothing about eclipses, the tides, or the seasons; they are equally learned on the subject of the planets, and believe that a falling star" is a fiery dart aimed by the "Great Spirit," at one of the "Ghinnies" (Fairies).†

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MOHAMMEDAN PRINCIPLES-THE PATRIARCHS-
SUPERSTITION, &c.

The Osmanlis believe our Saviour to be a Prophet, but not the "Son of God;" and they have a respect for almost all those whom the Bible declares to have obtained favour at the hands of God. They profess great veneration for the Old Testament and the Law of Moses :-the fact is, the Khoran is founded on the Mosaic Dispensation:-they imagine that the true religion was altered, and that Mohammed the Prophet was sent by the Almighty from Heaven, to purify it. Accordingly, this same Prophet and his followers are declared to be descended from

For an account of the Arab method of computing time, see Vol. I, p. 345. See Vol. I. p. 372. et esq., also Vol. II. Chap. IX; compare this with p. 303.

APPENDIX.

497 Ismael and Abraham, in whose seed, "all the nations of the earth shall be blessed." Noah, or "Nouh," is in high estimation with them; because they believe he saved the world from absolute destruction; and they assert that Abraham left his country to become the "Father of the Faithful," in obedience to the express commands of God. At the same time, they do not deny the miracles of our Saviour, who in the Khoran is designated "D'Issa,”—and they even attribute others to Him which are set forth in the Talmud, and the books of the Jewish Rabbis: -they place implicit confidence in the account which the Bible gives of the "Passage of the Red Sea," *—and they revere the memory of Solomon, Job, or "Ayoub," and Jonas or "Younès." They profess to hate the Devil and his Angels, and to abhor Cain, Nimrod, the Pharaohs of Egypt, and all the Heathen Idols of Arabia,-as Lat," "Minat,' "Ozza," &c.

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The Prophet assumed to himself three names, "Mohammed," "Mahomet," or "Mehemet" on earth; and generally pronounced by the Arabs as if it were written " Am’hh’ammed”—“ Ahmed,” or 66 "Achmet" in Heaven;-and "Mahmoud" in Hell! All these, but especially the two first, are held sacred, and it is thought that those who bear them will go to Paradise. The Mussulmauns think less of titles than we do; but they glory in being able to claim relationship with the Prophet :those who think themselves entitled to this honour, or who have made the pilgrimage to Mekkah, are called "Hadgi:"-they are generally great fanatics, insolent and overbearing-although their religion teaches that "all men are equal before God!" There is scarcely a Mohammedan who does not believe in astrology, magic, and sorcery:-all are more or less under the influence of superstition: anything mysterious is attributed by them to supernatural agency-evil spirits, fairies, or the "Evil Eye:"-they are continually asking for "talismans" and waraga," or charms; and they have great faith in "amulets," or invocations, to produce good, preserve from harm, and procure the fulfilment of their desires :-to this end, fumigations and mirrors are thought to have a most remarkable effect, quotations from the Khoran suspended about the person, and mystical signs, and writing in some strange language. At one period, the dogs in and about Constantinople, became so numerous and so noisy, that the Divan published a decree that they should be carried over to the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus, and there turned loose-it being contrary to the doctrines of the Khoran to destroy life, otherwise they would have been shot;-the decree was immediately enforced, to the delight of everybody: but it so happened that a fire broke out the same evening, in Turk-town, which disconcerted the Authorities not a little, and repenting of the rash act which they

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* See Vol. II. p. 52 and 310.-Vol. I. p. 367, et seq.; also p. 206 and 343. + See Vol. I. p. 265, et seq. See Vol. I. p. 73 and 331; and Vol. II. Chap. ix,

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had just committed, another decree was issued that the dogs should be brought back again, with all possible dispatch, which was accordingly done, and it was most ludicrous to see a procession of boats traversing the Bosphorus for the next forty-eight hours, laden with grave Osmanlis and mangy curs! *

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION IN TURKEY.

According to the system which has been so long in force throughout the Ottoman Empire, the delegates of the Sultan resident in the Provinces, have it in their power to practise the grossest tyranny and injustice. Take the following as an illustration. A certain Governor of Philippopoli having offered a larger sum than his competitors to Emim Pascha of Adrianople, for the farming of its revenues, did not fail from the day his administration commenced, to employ all the means in his power, to render his speculation lucrative. The failure of the crops throughout the district, however, occasioned so much misery, that he began to foresee-instead of the golden harvest he anticipated,-a considerable loss, unless he called into operation the powers of threats and violence. Bent on schemes of spoliation, he summoned into his presence the Osmanli and Greek Municipal Officers, to inform them, that having considered it meet to rebuild the palace of the Governor at Philippopoli, he expected they would provide him with the necessary funds. The principal architect, a Greek, was sent for, who, after examining the plan laid before him by the Governor, declared his readiness to undertake the building for the sum of 150,000 piastres-an estimate, considering the cheapness of building materials in the Province, and the low rate of wages, altogether exorbitant. The Agahs and Greek Primates withdrew, without venturing to make any observation, much less a remonstrance, assuring the Governor that they would themselves concert with their constituents, as to the means of raising the required contribution. The Greek architect alone, at the Governor's invitation, remained behind with the Mollah. The two magistrates, after using fair promises and the fiercest threats, ultimately prevailed upon him to draw out a fresh estimate of expenses, double that first mentioned, and then to present it to the Turkish and Greek community! To prevent the Governor from suspecting the steps they were secretly taking against him, the Municipal Officers advanced him the sum of 60,000 piastres, declaring they would pay the rest of the contribution, on obtaining a loan. The building was rapidly being raised, and the two

* See ante, p. 328; and Vol. II. p. 595.

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Magistrates were congratulating themselves on the success of their extortion, when Emim Pascha, to whom the inhabitants of Phillippopoli had applied for redress, unexpectedly arrived in the town, under pretence of passing the local militia in review. Finding upon enquiry, that the statement of grievances laid before him by the inhabitants, was well-founded, he sent for the Greek architect, and having obliged him to confess in what manner the Governor and the Mollah had prevailed upon him to claim for the erection of the palace, so exorbitant a sum, he summoned both of the Magistrates before him, and with a severe rebuke, condemned them to refund the sum they had received, and to pay the expenses already incurred, out of their own purse. A few days only had elapsed after the Pascha's departure for Adrianople, when an alarm of fire startled the inhabitants out of their sleep. The fire broke out in the house of the Greek architect ;-thanks to the exertions made, it was promptly extinguished, but to the inexpressible horror of their fellow-citizens, the bodies of the proprietor, his wife, children, and servants were found, in different parts of the house, with their throats cut. The only individual who had escaped the assassin's knife, was the architect's eldest son, who slept in the upper part of the house. The Governor, informed of the circumstance, seized it greedily as a means whereby to conceal the horrible plot of which he had been the perpetrator. He accused the Greek youth of having murdered his parents, and set fire to the house, in the hope of thus preventing the detection of his crimes, threw him into prison, and submitted him to the most cruel ordeal of the torture-engine, to extract from him the avowal of his guilt. Disappointed in his expectations, this monster was on the point of leading his victim to the scaffold, when a messenger arrived from Constantinople, bringing in answer to the statement laid before the Council at Stamboul, the sentence of destitution against the Governor and the Judge, and of their exile into Asia Minor.-This is only one of a thousand instances which might be adduced, of the same odious nature. A similar spirit of venality and corruption still prevails through every department of Government-more especially in Syria, and other remote Provinces.

TURKISH PROPHECY.

The following is extracted from a book of Prophecies called "Muhamedys," which is held in veneration by the Turks. "The Turkish Empire shall conquer Rome, and make the Pope Patriarch of Jerusalem; and he shall some time after, profess the Mohammedan faith.

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Christ shall then come, and shew the Christians their error in not having accepted the Khoran, and instruct them that the dove which came down from Heaven, was not the Holy Ghost, but was Mohammed, who shall be again upon earth, thirty years, and confirm the Khoran by new miracles. After this time, the power of the Turks shall decline, till they retire into the desert of Arabia, and then there shall be an end of the world. Their overthrow shall be accomplished by a people from the North, called "Canmies fer," (yellow-haired sons.) The ruin of Constantinople shall happen in one Sultan Mohammed's time, and then the Turks shall be reduced to so few in number, that sixty Turkish women shall have but one husband amongst them.”♦

THE OVER-LAND COMMUNICATION WITH INDIA, AND STEAM NAVIGATION TO THE LEVANT.†

Of all the important changes which have recently taken place in Egypt, there is nothing which is so highly calculated to promote civilization, as the facility of intercourse which is now afforded by steam communication to all parts of the Levant. Mohammed Ali has shewn his wisdom by adopting the plan proposed by the English; and if his vanity had not been flattered by French diplomacy, it is probable that he would have discovered by these very overtures, that it is the interest of both countries to act in concert, and to be on terms of sincere friendship. A plan of over-land communication with India had long been talked off; but the Pascha suffered himself to be persuaded that the English wanted to get a footing in the land, and rob him of his territory, forgetting that such a round-about scheme was quite unnecessary had they been so inclined, and that by so doing, England would involve herself in a general war with Europe; but it is curious how short-sighted men of great genius sometimes are in regard to matters of common sense.

A steam navigation fund was established in India; and in the spring of 1838, Col. Barr, aided by Col. Campbell, the British Consul General, succeeded in over-ruling the Viceroy's prejudices, and in spite of French intrigue, made arrangements for facilitating the transit of passengers through Egypt. It was agreed that stations should be erected in the desert between Cairo and Suez, with sleeping-rooms, stables, tanks for water, and other requisites, and Messrs. Raven and Hill undertook to

See page 48, 349, 358, and 455; and Vol. II. p. 121, 131, 137, and 161. † See p. 57, 128, 283, and 325: also Vol. II. Chap. II. IV. and V. p. 196.

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