quently use in the course of their prayers. I declare to you, Mr. Dillon, that when I have seen a number of men falling thus to the ground, and proclaiming with one voice the greatness of God, I have been deeply impressed; and have almost forgotten, for the time, that their notions of God, and of the way of becoming acceptable to Him, were very different indeed from mine.

Mr. D. But are their prayers always alike?

U. O. Yes, in substance; but there are additional prayers to be used occasionally; some that may be used every day, and others for the dead, for the sick, for rain; also some to be used during eclipses, or in battles, or during the fasts and festivals which I have described. If a man has any private matter which he wishes to make a subject of prayer, he does so at the end of his regular service, sitting upon the ground, and with his folded hands, lifted up, like one who has to receive something from above. I had almost forgotten to mention that in prostrating themselves upon the ground, they always manage so that their foreheads shall touch the bit of sacred clay from Mecca. This piece of superstition, together with the ostentation of their public prayers, and

the carelessness and inattention with which they often go through them, frequently prevents their ceremonies from being so impressive as they might be otherwise.

H. Then, Sir, it seems that in the same place they all pray at the same time.

U. O. Yes in the same place. In their ignorance of geography, the moslems mention it as a beauty of their religion that all the faithful are every where praying at the same time; not considering that while it is noon with them, it may be sun-rise or sun-set, or even midnight in another place; so that when they have finished the morning prayer, others may be beginning the prayer of evening.

H. That is very odd, Sir. But if it were true, would it not be very grand to think of many millions of people in different parts of the world, laying their heads upon the ground at the same moment, and crying with one voice that "God is great!"

U. O. So it would, Harry.

269

CHAPTER XIV.

MOSQUES.

Henry. Sir: on our last evening you told us that the Persians are to pray five times a-day. How do they know when the times of prayer are come, that they may all pray at the proper time?

Jane. By the church clocks to be sure.
Frank. Or perhaps they toll a bell?

Uncle Oliver. Neither. They have no bells or clocks.

F. Watches?

U. O. Watches are indeed in use among upper and middle classes of Persians.

H.
Like ours ?

the

U. O. Yes many of them are made in England, the dial plates having their own numerals instead of ours. But as their hours of prayer are regulated by the sun, they are of little use to them for fixing the time. Indeed, their way