Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/24

18 to have sufficient power to dispel the evils of the 19 hours of the day, and united with five daily Mohametan prayers is able to keep the believer from the evils and troubles of a whole day. The mechanical rehearsing of certain passages is taught to be an effectual relief for certain calamities, a sure protection in sacred wars, a lucky success in all enterprises, and an assurance in gaining loves and favors. 2. The Sacredness of the Current Copies of the Koran. A non-Mohametan is not allowed to touch this heaven-descended book; even the Mohametans do not handle it without having first performed the ceremony of ablution—sacred washing. When European or American travelers go to the Turkish Museums at Constantinople and enter, for instance, into the Tomb of Sultan Mahmoud, they will find a Mohametan guide there ready to show and explain the articles of interest, among which are several copies of the Koran wrapped in elegant embroideries and put upon special stands in front of the tomb, both for adornment and for the spiritual benefit of that great Sultan. The guide opens them one by one and explains their authority and dates and estimated prices, always being careful that no infidel's hand shall touch them. If any of the visitors moves his hand toward the finely gilded pages he politely pushes it back, saying, "Please, sir, according to our belief it is not lawful to touch the sacred Koran without first performing the legal ceremony of ablution. I can not myself touch it without." The writer had