invulnerable to the enemy's lance or sword. In this blissful belief, as soon as they left the tent, they wrapped the holy paper in a piece of cloth and sewed it to their right sleeves.
When the distribution of the sacred papers was over, a drum began to beat, and the armed multitudes hastened from every side towards the tent of their holy general. When the last warrior had joined the assembly and silence had fallen upon the crowd, the Sheikh issued with dignity from his sacred retreat. The whole crowd covered their faces with their hands and in speechless reverence repeated the prayer of holiness ("salavat"). To the Mohammedan this has the same significance that making the sign of the cross has to the Christian.
For want of anything else, they piled several saddles one upon another, and thus formed a sort of platform. The Sheikh ascended it. He had not the staff that he usually carried while preaching, but instead he held high above his head the crimson flag on which gleamed the white hand encircled by the names of the four Khalifs. His attitude recalled that marvellous sight, when the desert prophet of Arabia stood for the first time upon the pulpit made of camels' harness,and thence delivered his energetic oration.
The Sheikh began his sermon by invoking the divine blessings. In his prayer were mentioned, with great enthusiasm and praise, the names of God, Mohammed and his principal successors—Omar, Osman and Aboubekir. Then he spoke as follows:—
"Sons of Islam, the great prophet—glory be to his name!—calls you all to one grand and holy work. He calls upon you to fight against the enemies of his true religion who are now shedding the blood of the servants of God. (May they be accursed!)
"Let fear and doubt be far from you; faint-heartedness is not for the soldiers of God. God himself shall give tireless vigor to your arms, and the necks of the enemies shall fall before your swords as the dry corn falls before the sickle of the reaper. With your own hands you shall catch their bullets and return them into their breasts. You shall be protected by
