‘Women do not attend public worship, though particularly commanded thereto in a verse of the Koran. It is not, however, uncommon for ladies of quality to have their own _muzjeed_, or _mosque_[25], within the _haram_, as is the case with the Begums of Fyzabad. At Mecca there seems to be no distinction kept up; both sexes there offering up their adoration at the same time and place. ----- Footnote 25: These are small buildings answering the purpose of our churches, and many have large tracts of land attached for the maintanence of the priests. ----- ‘It is as incumbent on women, as on men, to visit Mecca; however, they generally (I mean ladies of rank) leave orders to depute a representative to perform the pilgrimage after their death. The lower classes, putting on the dress of _faqueerens_[26], or religious mendicants, frequently undertake the pilgrimage in company with their husbands or other relatives, after the accomplishment of which they are termed _hudjeecau_.[27] The various ceremonies required in prayer, demand a long apprenticeship before a proficiency can be acquired. Indeed, so particular are the rules, prescribed for every inflexion of the body, that a new disciple has to undergo as severe a drilling as falls to the lot of a raw countryman in his progress through the various stages of military discipline. One single false motion renders the whole ineffectual, and a re-commencement becomes absolutely necessary. ----- Footnote 26: _Faqueer_ is a male mendicant, and _faqueeren_ a female. Footnote 27: The designation of _hudjee_ (commonly pronounced _hadjee_) is assumed by all who have visited the shrine of the prophet: hence the term _hudjeecau_. ----- ‘People of respectability seldom have more slave-girls than are absolutely requisite for the common purposes of the house; viz. generally two for the cook-room, one who has charge of the provision, &c., one for the wardrobe and to attend the mistress’s toilette, &c., and two or three others for general purposes. There are, besides these, two or three women hired, (who are termed _asseel_,[28]) at the rate of two or three rupees per month, exclusive of food; one of these is always stationed as a kind of running sentry at the door of the _zennanah_,[29] for the purpose of conveying messages. There may be, besides these, one or two _Mogulanees_[30] to instruct the rest in the arts of sewing, &c. The above-mentioned number are equal to all the purposes of the house; where there are more, confusion generally reigns. ----- Footnote 28: The word _asseel_ literally means perfect, real, original, unadulterated; and here implies superiority. Footnote 29: _Zenanah_ means the _haram_, or women’s apartments. Footnote 30: _Mogulanee_ is a Mogul woman. The Moguls are one of the four principal sects of Mohamedans. -----