Anyhow, one fellow prayed in a hurry while his companion cut the sheep's throat to make it lawful meat.
"God is good," old Anazeh remarked to me, "and blessed be His Prophet, who forbade us faithful, even though we hunger, to defile ourselves with the flesh of creatures whose blood did not flow from the knife of the slayer." After that they all prayed, going first into the oily-feeling, asphaltic water for the ceremonial washing.

They were quite particular about it.

Then they spread prayer-mats, facing Mecca.
Every single cut-throat had brought along his prayer-mat, and had treasured it as carefully as his rifle.
Ahmed and I sat on a rock and watched them.

Ahmed pretended he wanted to pray, too.

To impress me, he said he was a very devout Christian and that nothing should prevent the practice of his religion.