Loosing the Shoes

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 23, 1875

Loosing the Shoes.

THE loosening of the shoes, and the putting them off the feet, is an Oriental custom, and one of constant observance. A recent traveler gives the following marked instance of this custom:—

“Before entering the dwelling of a European, or superior in any respect, the shoes are put off and left outside the door. In the same way before mosques, tombs, or other places considered sacred, this act is most scrupulously performed. An opportunity was afforded us of watching this proceeding, which was carried on for several hours without much intermission. We were encamped on a rising ground just in front of a rajah’s tomb. It was probably the anniversary of his death, and we were much amused in watching the honors paid to his memory. In the early morning crowds of visitors arrived from all the neighboring villages, each one provided with some offering of respect, which was carried inside the building and there deposited. The tomb being elevated on about twenty stone steps, we were enabled the better to observe the ceremonies performed. One of the first arrivals was that of a man seemingly of high degree. He was richly clothed, much decked with ornaments of gold and precious stones, and was most probably some near relative of the deceased. He rode up on horseback, his horse’s neck being adorned with garlands of strongly scented white and everlasting flowers. His first act on dismounting was the loosening of his shoes, which were left at the bottom of the steps. Then, barefoot, this great personage ascended the steps, bowing, and touching first the step and then his forehead, all the way up. He then entered the tomb with limes in his hand (a fruit always offered as a mark of respect) and garlands of flowers. Servants followed, bearing on their heads baskets of fruits, which were also with much reverence carried within. The horse all this time, as if perfectly accustomed to such scenes, quietly awaited his master’s return. It would be difficult to say how many pairs of shoes there were at one time around the steps. All these proceedings were marked with the keenest eyes by some dozens of ravenous crows, from the nearest trees; who were ready, the moment an opportunity offered, to fly into the tomb, and, without ceremony, most sacrilegiously despoil it.”

—Sel.