Page:Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894.djvu/40

24 When the Devil-worshippers again increased, he asked for a cannon from the Sultan Murad, of Constantinople, because when he ('Abd el Kader) was dead, the, Erfad, Devil-worshippers, soiled his grave; so Sultan Murad pushed a cannon, which went alone to Bagdad, the Sultan following it; it then began shooting by itself, till all the Erfad were killed. He then told the cannon to be quiet, but the cannon would not. He gave it a mighty push, and still it would not. He then tore open its mouth, whereupon it was quiet; the signs of the Sultan's fingers are still visible, and the cannon is chained, lest it begin again.

He has many of his Derwishes living in the beautiful Haram and Mosk belonging to them, and money is brought there plentifully from all Mohammedan countries to embellish his monument and feed the servants attending to it and to the lands belonging to it. They wear the white cap or turban, the colour of 'Abd el Kader. His standard also is white—in fact, though he presides more especially over all kinds of weapons, and his Derwishes have power to deprive the sword of its strength, yet he is the peace-maker, as his colours and name indicate. Previous to entering the Order, the candidate goes to some holy man of the Order he wishes to belong to, and studies his duties as Derwish. He lives under observation, and if the sheikh finds him fit, he puts his hand on his head, repeating the Fattiha seven times, and says, "Have you made up your mind to walk and keep the way of our Lord the Badawy?" , and, after the affirmative, takes a piece of sugar, spits on it, and having told him all he should do, and what is forbidden, gives him the sugar to eat and spits in his mouth, and tells him, "God and your Lord (the founder of the Order) will punish you for your faults, and be with you in your needs." The newly-admitted can at once work wonders, and with drums and cymbals the feast is made (after paying the fee). The candidate is beaten with swords, and struck on the head, and the endless Hei and Allah are repeated. A real Derwish must openly wear his master's colours and uniform. Men are often initiated into the Orders without carrying about the spear and begging, which they ought to do. The candidate is received on a Thursday evening generally, as they mostly then hold their religious exercises,. The man comes to the highest in rank, a Khalify,, and says, "I beg to be admitted to the Order of our Lord the Sheikh 'Abd el Kader, all here present to be witness." Nothing is done then till a certain sum is paid, from 3 piastres up to £1, when a diploma is given with the names of the generations of the sheikh initiating him written thereon, up to 'Abd el Kader. If the sum is the highest, besides the power to work miracles and tread on fire or swallow it, to wound with swords and heal the wounds, to hold serpents and every poisonous animal, is inscribed on it. Often single letters following each other, or a sentence of the Koran, are written on the diploma. But to seal the real reception a lamb or goat is killed, and the Derwishes of the neighbourhood join in the