Strange Hyde Park Scene.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7722, 26 January 1905, Page 4

Strange Hyde Park Scene.

[OSLEM FEAST CELEMK-IRf) IN THE RAIN. In a drenching downpour of rain, a ozen dusky-faced men assembled unler the bare, dripping branch**; of a lane true near the Marble Arch end »f Hyde Park. " AlUih 1.0 j raisui ! Allah is ;ood ! " they chautoil as {hey scrapd the soddened ground with their oreheads. On a scrap of oilcloth stood ail (igure with a flowing turr >an of white and gold 'Upon his lead. A linger thrust in each ear, ie pjayed fervently in Arabic. Ihe strango little company were Uoh-amtLH-d-tins, who, for the lirst ,ime in London, offered up an openlir proyer to celebrate the feast afor the Fast of Kamadan (Id-al-Fitr) he ino:;l solemn and most trying nonth to the faithful. The un-East-»rn rcyns and nipping air robbed the rereinony of much picturesqueness, or ove. coats were worn with turbans and mackintoshes accompanied ioaes. One follower, of the Prophet wore what looked like 'beaded sandals, ami damp feet were the reward of his devotion. Having, despite the murky atmosphere, discovered thfr direction in which Mecca lies, Allah's faithfxii in Lx>mU>n. wpread their praying mats accordingly. Tho little ceremony lasted only a few minutes.