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use in most Mahometan countries, not- withstanding it was expresly prohibited by Soliman II. The dervises and other devo- tres contended, that it was serviceable to them in a religious point of view, by en- abling them to pass the night in prayer without being overcome by sleep. In 1523, it gave rise to very serious and elaborate discussions among the the Mahometan doctors of Cairo: at first it was prohibited, on the ground that produced intoxication and excited improper feelings; but the at- tempt to carry the prohibition into effect caused such a violent commotion in the city, that it was allowed to be drunk with impunity. At Constantinople, also, the introduction of the use of coffee was op- posed by the Mahometan doctors, but on dif- ferent grounds. Mahomet, it seems had had denounced charcoal as a prohibited: article of food, and they contended, that roasted coffee must be included in the prohibition; the coffee houses were ac- cordingly shut up, but a more liberal Mufti permited them to be re-opened; political reasons were then assigned for again shuting them up, as they were alledged to be the haunts of the vicious and the disaffected. The fact seems to have been, that men of learning, especially poets