CONSTANTINOPLE, APRIL 27.—Although this ceremony is closely connected with the first source of Mussulman belief, it may be regarded rather as a civil court pageantry than as a general religious festival. With the exception of its being one of the three days upon which the Sultan annually proceeds in state to the Mosque of Achmet, and of salutes being fired at the hours of prayer, it is not distinguished by any public signs of devotion or respect. Business is not suspended, shops are not closed, work is performed as usual, no special prayers are offered up during the day at the ordinary mosques, and it is not regarded as a holiday by the common people, as is the case at Beiram. The preceding night is, however, included among the seven holy nights dedicated to the great mysteries of Islam, during which the mosques are illuminated within and without, and the faithful, summoned by the Muezims, crowd to the temples after dark to perform their devotions, in lieu of saying the prescribed night prayer in their houses or elsewhere. Attendance at the mosque is not enjoined by the canonical code, but orthodox Mussulmans hold it to be more meritorious to maintain the observance. Upon this night, called Leily ul Mevloody, as upon the other six mystic nights, it is also considered praiseworthy to abstain from all sensual gratifications. Thus few true believers, not excepting the Sultan, pass the threshold of their harems from sunset until dawn. Indeed, it is a received opinion, that all children born in consequence of the transgression, will come into the world as blind as bats, and go out of it as hump-backed as camels, and be subjected, moreover, to leprosy, rickets, and divers other bodily afflictions.