Studies in a Mosque - The Search For Mecca

280 STUDIES IN A MOSQUE.
spirits and jinn, and the imprecations of women.
The Mandseans believe that women have a peculiar
vein or nerve which was put into them by the devil,
which renders them powerful for mischief, and makes
their good vows of none effect, whilst giving extra-
ordinary potency to their malisons. Hence, when a
Mandsean sees an angry woman, he j)uts his fingers in
his ears and flies with all possible speed from the spot,
lest he should fall a victim to her curse. A believer
must never pass a river without invoking peace upon
it. Fasting proper forms no part of the Sabian reli-
gion, but the people are enjoined to abstain from flesh
meat on thirty-two special days of the year. Besides
Sundays, they have five great feasts in the year. The
first is Nauroz, or new year's day, which is believed
to be also observed in paradise ; it includes new year's
eve and the first six days of the new year. Among
the many ceremonies and prohibitions of this feast, it
is curious to note that it is not allowed to draw any
water while Nauroz lasts : all that will be needed is
drawn the day before, and the people take the same
occasion to be baptised. They pass the night before
new year's day without sleeping. On the day itself
they remain at home, to be secure against possible
defilement; for to touch as much as a blade of grass
would render fresh baptism necessary, and total absti-
nence from food for twenty-four hours. On this day
the priests consult their astrological books, to see
wliat will befall in the new year, and whether it will
be fat or lean. Next day everybody calls on the
priests and pays them the customary fees. No beast