Five times a day the Mezzuin proclaims the hour of prayer from the minaret in these words:  “There is no God but God.  Mohammed is his prophet.  Come to prayer.”  In the morning call he adds, “Prayer is better than sleep.”  Immediately every Mussulman leaves his occupation, and prostrates himself on the floor or ground, wherever he may he.  It is very disreputable to omit this.

An interesting account is given of the domestic life of Moslem women in Syria, by Miss Rogers, in her little book called “Domestic Life in Palestine,” published in 1862.

Miss Rogers travelled in Palestine with her brother, who was British consul at Damascus.  The following passage illustrates the character of the women (Miss Rogers was obliged to sleep in the same room with the wives of the governor of Arrabeh, near Naplous):—­

“When I began to undress the women watched me with curiosity; and when I put on my night-gown they were exceedingly astonished, and exclaimed, ‘Where are you going?  Why is your dress white?’ They made no change for sleeping, and there they were, in their bright-colored clothes, ready for bed in a minute.  But they stood round me till I said ‘Good night,’ and then all kissed me, wishing me good dreams.  Then I knelt down, and presently, without speaking to them again, got into bed, and turned my face to the wall, thinking over the strange day I had spent.  I tried to compose myself to sleep, though I heard the women whispering together.  When my head had rested about five minutes on the soft red silk pillow, I felt a hand stroking my forehead, and heard a voice saying, very gently, ‘Ya Habibi,’ i.e.  ‘O beloved.’  But I would not answer directly, as I did not wish to be roused unnecessarily.  I waited a little while, and my face was touched again.  I felt a kiss on my forehead, and a voice said, ‘Miriam, speak to us; speak, Miriam, darling.’  I could not resist any longer; so I turned round and saw Helweh, Saleh Bek’s prettiest wife, leaning over me.  I said, ‘What is it, sweetness, what can I do for you?’ She answered, ’What did you do just now, when you knelt down and covered your face with your hands?’ I sat up, and said very solemnly, ’I spoke to God, Helweh.’  ‘What did you say to him?’ said Helweh.  I replied, ’I wish to sleep.  God never sleeps.  I have asked him to watch over me, and that I may fall asleep, remembering that he never sleeps, and wake up remembering his presence.  I am very weak.  God is all-powerful.  I have asked him to strengthen me with his strength.’  By this time all the ladies were sitting round me on the bed, and the slaves came and stood near.  I told them I did not know their language well enough to explain to them all I thought and said.  But as I had learned the Lord’s Prayer, by heart, in Arabic, I repeated it to them, sentence by sentence, slowly.  When I began, ’Our Father who art in heaven,’ Helweh directly said, ’You told me your father was in London.’  I replied, ’I have two fathers, Helweh; one in London, who does not know that I am here, and cannot know till I write and tell him; and a Heavenly Father, who is here now, who is with me always, and sees and hears us.  He is your Father also.  He teaches us to know good from evil, if we listen to him and obey him.’