THE PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA ad. 



c. 1580. 

 they go and come 7. times, saying alwaies some of their 

 prayers, which (they say) the afflicted Agar sayd, whiles 

 she sought and found not water for her sonne Ismael to 

 drinke. This ceremonie being ended, the pilgrimes enter 

 into the Mosquita, and drawing neere unto the house of 

 Abraham, they goe round about it other seven times, 

 alwayes saying : This is the house of God, and of his 

 servant Abraham ; This done, they goe to kisse that 

 blacke stone abovesayd. After they go unto the pond 

 Zun Zun, and in their apparell as they be, they wash [II. i. 209.] 

 themselves from head to foote, saying, Tobah Allah, 

 Tobah Allah, that is to say. Pardon lord. Pardon lord, 

 drinking also of that water, which is both muddie, filthie, 

 and of an ill savour, and in this wise washed and watered, 

 every one returneth to his place of abode, and these 

 ceremonies every one is bound to doe once at the least. 

 But those which have a mind to overgoe their fellowes, 

 and to go into paradise before the rest, doe the same 

 once a day while the Carovan remaineth there. 



What the Carovan doeth after having rested at 



Mecca. 



THe Carovan having abode within the citie of Mecca 

 five dayes, the night before the evening of their 

 feast, the captaine with all his company setteth forward 

 towards the mountaine of pardons, which they call in the The mountain 

 Arabian tongue, Jabel Arafata. This mountaine is distant of pardons, 

 from Mecca 15. miles, and in the mid way thereto is a 

 place called Mina, that is to say. The haven, and a litle 

 from thence are 4. great pillars, of which hereafter we 

 will speake. Now first touching the mountaine of 

 Pardons, which is rather to be called a litle hill, then a 

 mountain, for that it is low, litle, delightful and pleasant, 

 containing in circuit two miles, and environed round 

 about with the goodliest plaine that ever with mans eie 

 could be seen, and the plaine likewise compassed with 

 exceeding high mountains, in such sort, that this is one 

 of the goodliest situations in the world : and it seemeth 



355 



