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WITH, THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR. 49
purpose. Another was one of the captains of Alexander the Great, and also one of
Solomon's household. He was called Chederles, and his achievements resemble
those of our St. George and the Dragon, as they are represented in the Christian
churches of the East. Him they call Eyoub, or Job infari. The third, and him to
whom the mosque is dedicated, is Abu Eyoub. When the Prophet was in peril, he
was succoured by certain persons from Medina, who were there called Ansars, or
"Auxiliaries." One of them was named Job, or Eyoub, who became afterwards
the personal companion of the Prophet. When it was determined to destroy the
Christian capital of the Romans in Europe, a plenary indulgence of sins was promised to all the faithful who should proceed to accomplish that object, and the Ansar
Eyoub set an example by enrolling himself in the Saracen army, which set out for that
purpose in the year 672. He fell, with many thousands of his countrymen, before the
walls of Constantinople, and received a magnificent funeral. His memory was had in
veneration by the majority of his people, but the particular spot where his body was laid
had unfortunately been forgotten, nor was it till after the lapse of 750 years that it was
discovered. It was revealed by a vision, and, to identify the sacred spot for all posterity,
a mosque was erected over it by Mahomed IL, in which every succeeding monarch was to
receive his inauguration.
When a sultan succeeds to the throne, instead of the ceremony of European sovereigns, placing a crown on the head, his dignity is conferred by the more appropriate
one of girding a sword on the thigh. To this end, the mufti, vizir, and other officers,
on horseback, assemble at the seraglio, from whence, accompanied by the sultan, they
proceed to the mosque of Eyoub. When they arrive, some celebrated imaum delivers
a discourse, exciting the sultan to the vigorous propagation of Islamism and the extirpation of infidels. This he swears on the Koran to do, and then, ascending a marble
tribune, the mufti approaches, and girds on a sword, to enable him to perform his
promise. From hence the cortege proceeds to the harbour, where a splendid vessel
awaits, and the commander makes a bridge of his back, over which the sultan embarks.
He then sails to the arsenal, and, while reposing there on a divan prepared for him,
he finds a large purse under the cushion, which he receives as the first offering of his
faithful subjects. He finally retires to his harem, where he remains several days to
repose himself. Modern usage has neglected many ancient ceremonies of the inauguration, but girding on the sword at Eyoub is immutable and indispensable, and never
omitted.
The Mausoleum and Mosque are seen enclosed in trees; the former is built of pure
marble, the windows covered with gilded lattice, through which is seen the sacred tomb
inside, consisting of a catafalque, surmounted with the supposed turban of the deceased.
The mosque is a plain edifice, consisting only of a single dome with minarets. The
walls of the interior are lined with marble, and the floor covered with carpets. Among
the relics preserved is a fragment of marble, having impressed upon it the imprint of the
Prophet's foot, which the yielding stone received and preserved as a miracle. The tomb
is surmounted by a railing of silver: near it is a sacred well, supplied by a stream,
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