About the book: 1856 / "Islam, like other religions, has undergone later changes and additions: among them is the ritual of kissing the robe of Muhammad, in 15th day of fasting, observed only in Constantinople. Despite the bad weather, on the Ramadan that I happened to spend in Istanbul, the Sultan came from his autumn residence in Beshik-Tashi to the Old Palace, where all the dignitaries of the empire, spiritual, military and civil, the mufti, the grand vizier, ministers, etc. gathered . With prayers and special reverence, they unrolled the mantle of forty veils, and then the Sultan was the first to venerate it, after which he retreated to his place, where he remained, standing the entire time, as the dignitaries, one after another, kissed the edge of the mantle. This mantle is surrounded with great respect when the ruler of the Ottoman Empire, the Caliph of the Muslim world himself, stands before it. The ritual of kissing is observed by the chief ceremonial master, armed with a mace or staff, and, of course, here, in the sacred chapel, the difference in ranks is also not forgotten: the colonel does not dare to kiss the robe before the general. One of the Sultan’s courtiers wipes his robe with a muslin handkerchief after each kiss, and then gives this handkerchief to the kisser: in this way a mass of handkerchiefs, prepared in advance, is distributed…»