128 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

only used. All these races, however, blacks and all, are much addicted to snuff-taking (nuscliuk) ; the snuff they usually carry in small oval-shaped cases, made out of the fruit of the Dom-palm these have a verv small opening at one end, stopped up by a wooden peg, and the snuff is not taken in pinches, but shaken out on the back of the hand.

This is the principal sensual pleasure, and the most favourite mental one of every follower of Islam is the counting the beads of his rosary ; these rosaries, their chief ornament, they wear hanging on the neck or arm while praying, but carry it at other times as a plaything in the hand. This latter plan was much in vogue among many Franks in Alexandria, who could not remain quiet on the divan if they had not a rosary to finger, nor could they walk out on business through the streets without this indispensable plaything. The religious Turks use a rosary during prayer (sali), at each bead, the telling of which goes on rather more rapidly than with our German devotees, exclaiming the name of Allah. But other religionists carry also rosaries,— Copts, Eastern Christians, Armenians, &c., as a toy to amuse themselves with when their hands are not occupied by the pipe. Among the better classes, these rosaries are generally of precious stones, sweet smelling woods, or a dark, odorous compound of roses, ornamented with gold, silver, ivory, and such like. Those used by the lower order of Arabs are manufactured in Hedjas from the fruit of the Dompalm, and are sold by the merchants and pilgrims (Hadji) as possessed of particular qualities and special virtues ; others are made of rose and other fragrant woods, and retain considerable remains of such scents. The size and numbers of beads vary; commonly there are 99, in three divisions of 33 each, but there are some rosaries with only 33, and some with as many as 198 beads. The sacred number of Mahomet is 33, and pious Mussulmen pronounce or exclaim after prayer Allah's name 3 times 33 times (99) ; but this is not absolutely ordered by the Koran. For the first 33 times the exclamation is Subhan Allah (To God belongs all, God created all !) ; the second division Hamdul el Allah (Thanks to God !); tJie third Allah Ackbar (God is great— is over all !). In usual conversation the name given the Deity is Mauhle.