Beads for Prayers and Conversation
In Turkish culture, beads are used not only to count prayers but also for conversational purposes. The Mohammedan faith requires a specific number of prayers and quotes from the Koran. The ordinary ritual involves thirty-six prayers and sixteen quotations, but the complete ritual includes ninety-nine prayers. If a mistake is made, the person must start over and repeat the entire set of prayers The Waterfront of Constantinople.
Each prayer and quotation is carefully checked off with the beads. This ensures that no part of the ritual is missed. The prayers are short and often repeat the same meaning in different ways, such as, “Allah is great. I testify that there is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is His prophet.”
Transportation in Constantinople
Saddle-Horses and Carriages for Hire
In Constantinople, saddle-horses and carriages are available for hire in several parts of the city. These modes of transport are particularly useful in areas where the streets are narrow and the slopes are steep.
The owner or the person in charge of the horses will often send a boy to bring the horse back after it has been used. This makes it easier for people to travel around the city, especially in areas that are difficult to access by carriages.
Language Skills of the Locals
A Talent for Languages
A surprising number of people in Constantinople speak English. The locals have an impressive ability to learn and speak multiple languages. Orientals, in general, are known to be great linguists, with a natural talent for picking up languages more easily than some Anglo-Saxons. This ability helps them communicate with people from different parts of the world.
Buying Turkish Rugs
Rug Sales at the Custom House
Turkish rugs are sold by the bale as they arrive at the custom-house. Buyers often do not have the chance to inspect the rugs before purchasing. They must accept them as they come, whether they are old or new, fine or rough, and perfect or damaged. The weekly arrivals of rugs are usually auctioned on Monday mornings sofia tour guides.
The Journey of Turkish Rugs
Where the Rugs Come From
The majority of rugs are brought from central Asia by camel caravans. These caravans transport the rugs to the ports of the Mediterranean and Black Sea, where they are shipped to Smyrna and Constantinople, the major markets for these rugs. The rugs are packed in bales, categorized by their sizes.
If the buyer knows the name of the seller and where the rugs came from, they have a little idea of the rug’s value. However, buying these rugs is often like a lottery, and they usually sell for less than their actual worth. This system, an old tradition, prevents sellers from earning the full value of their products.
