ats his prayers,
professes his belief in God and his Prophet, and in a last appeal to
the aid of affection, he says to his child, "turn my head towards
Mecca," and calmly expires.

A people's religion is traced in their established and common forms of
devotion, and none are more attentive to these than the Turks. To
neglect any ceremony which their religion prescribes, is deemed a mark
either of inferior understanding or of depraved character. Public
decorum is {271} everywhere observed; and though both moral and
religious precepts are violated with impunity and without remorse, they
are always spoken of with great respect. A Mohammedan is never ashamed
to defend his faith; and of his sincerity and firmness, the earnestness
of his vindication may be taken as sufficient proof: he not
unfrequently interrupts the progress of conversation by repeating his
religious formula. In the Turkish towns, travellers are incessantly
met with the cry of Allah Ackbar; and by Mussulmans, who would be
esteemed pious, the divine name is as frequently repeated as if
reverent and devout thoughts were habitually uppermost in their minds.

Purifications are constantly, and with great strictness, performed by
the Mussulmans of every country, but especially by those of Turkey.
Their professed object is to render the body fit for the decorous
performance of religious duties; no act being praiseworthy or
acceptable, in their estimation, unless the person of the performer be
in a condition of purity. Some have thought, but without sufficient
grounds, that these external purifications are believed to supersede an
inward cleansing of the heart. Fountains placed round their mosques,
and numerous baths in every city, enable the devout to perform their
five prayers daily, during which, if they chance to receive pollution
{272} from anything accidentally coming in contact with them, their
devotions are suspended till the offensive inconvenience is removed by
water or other means.

At the appointed hour, the Maazeens or criers, with their faces towards
Mecca, their eyes closed, and their hands upraised, pace the little
galleries of the minarets or towers of the mosques, and proclaim in
Arabic, the Moslem language of devotion, that the season of prayer has
arrived. Instantly, every one, whatever may be his rank or employment,
gives himself up to it. Ministers of state suspend the most important
affairs, and prostrate themselves on the floor; the