Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/65

Rh Some haughty sheikhs shut themselves in one of these sacred places and never go out of their walls for fifteen, twenty, thirty year. These. "Fathers" are the living saints of the present age, and all the wealthy citizens and the eminent visitors are expected to go and kiss the skirts of his mantle and put their presents under his cushion. Even the greatest men would not sit in his presence but by his permission, and that on bended knees; and never talk freely, only answer his questions, and that very slowly and reverently; never smoke or drink coffee but by his special favor. These and their followers have a very great influence upon the transactions of the Government and private affairs of the sultans and their ministers. As a rule they are not so self-denying and abstinent as they profess to be.

4. Mufties are the men who alone have authority to apply Mohametan law to the practical transactions of daily life. They have the privilege to consult with the former books and extract their legal decrees from them. The following examples will illustrate their mode of administering the law:

A camel driver was once so angry with his camel that he swore to sell her for one mite by the first opportunity in the nearest city. After his anger was over he felt sorry for the oath he had made, but could not see any lawful way to escape from it. While in deep meditation he was advised by a friend to apply to the mufti of the town to see whether he could show a right way to settle this trouble. He went and stated the case. The mufti said, "Find a