P.S.  All good Mussulmauns are expected to wear their beards, by command of the Prophet; so says my informant, who is of ‘the faith’, and wears his beard, in accordance with the injunction of his Lawgiver.  In modern times, however, the Mussulmauns have seen fit to modify the strict letter of the law, and we perceive generally, mustachios only reserved on the upper lip.  This ornament is trained with the nicest care amongst the fashionable young men of the present day, and made to creep over the lip at each corner of the mouth with curling points; well-trained mustachios being with them much esteemed.

The religious Mussulmauns become more scrupulous as they advance in knowledge of their faith, when they allow their beards to grow and their heads to be shaven; if the hair turns white—­while to look well is an object of interest—­a dye is resorted to, composed of mayndhie and indigo, which restores its youthful appearance, and the beard retains its black glossy hue for about six weeks, when the process of dyeing is again made the business of a convenient hour.[25] The vanities of the world ceasing to charm (the heart being fixed on more important subjects), the beard is permitted to retain its natural colour; and, truly, the venerable countenance of an aged Mussulmaun, with a silvery-white beard flowing nearly to his girdle, is a picture that would interest every beholder well acquainted with Bible history.

When the Mussulmaun determines on fulfilling the command of his Lawgiver, in making the pilgrimage to Mecca, the beard is allowed to grow whatever be his age; and this may be considered a badge of their faith, none being admitted at ‘the Holy House’ who have not this passport on their chin.

[1] Pahar.

[2] Ghari, about twenty-four minutes.

[3] Darwan, chaukidar.

[4] See p. 64.

[5] According to the Shi’ahs, Zainu-l-’Abidin obtained from Yazid,
    after forty days, the head of Husain, and brought it to Karbala.  They
    deny that the head is at Cairo and the body at Karbala.  Others say
    that the head was sent to Medina, and buried near the grave of
    Fatimah.—­Burton, Pilgrimage, ii. 40; Ockley, History of the
    Saracens, 412, 415 note.

[6] Mitha, ‘sweet’.

[7] Shirmal, bread made with milk.

[8] Baqirkhani, a kind of crisp bread or cake, like piecrust,
    made of milk, sugar, and flour.

[9] Chapati, the griddle cake, the standard food of the people.

[10] No food should be cooked in the house of a Musalman during the
    forty days of mourning.  Sir J.G.  Frazer thinks that this is due to
    the risk of eating the ghost clinging to the food (Journal
    Anthropological Institute, xv. (1886) 92 ff.).

[11] Missi, from mis, ‘copper’, because copper-filings form its
    chief ingredient, to which are added myrobalan, gall-nuts, vitriol, &c. 
    The custom is based on the Arab admiration for the rose-red colour of
    the inner lip.—­Burton, A Thousand Nights and A Night, iii. 365.