Page:Lands of the Saracen 1859.djvu/342

CHAPTER XXVII.

 

THE SOLEMNITIES OF BAIRAM

 

The Appearance of the New Moon — The Festival of Bairam — The Interior of the Seraglio — The Pomp of the Sultan's Court — Reschid Pasha — The Sultan's Dwarf — Arabian Stallions — The Imperial Guard — Appearance of the Sultan — The Inner Court — Return of the Procession — The Sultan on his Throne — The Homage of the Pashas — An Oriental Picture — Kissing the Scarf — The Shekh el-Islam — The Descendant of the Caliphs — Bairam Commences.

 

Constantinople, Monday July 19, 1852.

Saturday was the last day of the fast-month of Ramazan, and yesterday the celebration of the solemn festival of Bairam took place. The moon changed on Friday morning at 11 o'clock, but as the Turks have no faith in astronomy, and do not believe the moon has actually changed until they see it, all good Mussulmen were obliged to fast an additional day. Had Saturday been cloudy, and the new moon invisible, I am not sure but the fast would have been still further prolonged. A good look-out was kept, however, and about four o'clock on Saturday afternoon some sharp eyes saw the young crescent above the sun. There is a hill near Gemlik, on the Gulf of Moudania, about fifty miles from here, whence the Turks believe the new moon can be first seen. The families who live on this hill are exempted from taxation, in consideration of their keeping a watch for the moon, at the close of Ramazan.