58 Journal of Mr. Burckhardt's 



observing the whole of the journeys, prayers, sacrifices, ^c, as 

 before described, excepting only the use of the Haram, for which 

 they must substitute a dress of their usual robes, the whole of 

 them of a pure white, without the intermixture of other colours, 

 and their faces to be closely veiled — added to which, they can 

 only go as the companions of their husbands, who must be always 

 near them throughout the whole ceremony. 



Even children in a state of infancy, and of all ages upwards, 

 are taken also to Mecca, by their parents, on pilgrimage, as in- 

 fants are taken to the baptismal font of the Christian church, to 

 make a profession of the faith by sponsors before they have ar- 

 rived at an age of sufficient maturity to do it themselves. Children 

 who cannot walk are thus carried to the Mosque, and borne 

 round the Kaaba in their mother's arms, while their lips are 

 pressed on the black stone to kiss it. Since they cannot utter 

 their prayers, the father repeats them on their account. They 

 are taken to Arafat, to the pillars of Munya, and to the valley, 

 where the parent kills a number of sheep equal to those of his 

 whole family, sacrificing also for each of those who are incapable 

 of doing: it for themselves. 



Jedda, Wednesday, December 7. 



We breakfasted together for the last time; the caravan for 

 Medina was decidedly to leave Mecca on Friday, as being the 

 most favourable day for departure, in which both Turks and 

 Arabs are as superstitious as any natives ancient or modern with 

 whom they can be compared ; and as some preparations were re- 

 quisite before he commenced his journey from the holy city, 

 Ibrahim's stay with us could not possiljly be prolonged. 



How much I felt indebted for the kindness of his visit to me, 

 under such circumstances as must have occasioned him other- 

 wise unnecessary fatigue and inconvenience, it is impossible for 

 me to say ; and the extreme and constant gratification which his 

 short stay with us daily afforded, increased considerably the 

 weight of an obligation, which the kindness of the act alone was 

 sufficient to make me deeply sensible of. 



