ABSTRACT
The Dignitary then took the young votary to his own house, where he taught him the “Formula of Disburdening” (seep. 171), and also made him acquainted with the various forms of prayer, to the number of sixteen, in which the Nusairis pay divine honours to Ali. Each of these forms of prayer is called a chapter, with a particular name, indicative of its contents; and in several cases the so-called prayer has little or none of the tone of supplication, being for the most part, or wholly, a recital, and that without any special propriety, apparently, in reference to devotion. The whole collection, to which the general title of Dustur, i.e. “The Canon,” is given, provides a good insight into the Nusairi beliefs.
