Note 543 — Chapter XXV · PERIODICAL PUBLIC FESTIVALS, ETC.—continued.

Thefts are also sometimes committed in this mosque on other occasions, as a friend of mine lately experienced.—“I went there,” said he, “to pray; and, as I was stooping over the brink of the ‘meydaäh,’ to perform the ablution, having placed my shoes beside me, and was saying, ‘I purpose to perform the divine ordinance of the “wudoó,”’ somebody behind me said to himself, ‘I purpose to take away this nice pair of shoes.’ On looking round, I found an old worn-out pair of shoes put in the place of my own, which were new.”