98 MEMOIR OF BURCKHARDT. 



tob, or shirt, which is renewed every year at the 

 time of the pilgrimage. Near it is the Bir Zem- 

 zem^ or famous Zerazem well, said to be the same 

 which the angel pointed out to Hagar and Ishmael 

 in the wilderness, of which all the Mussulman 

 hajjis drink copiously, in the belief that it purifies 

 them of their sins. Linens dipped in this well they 

 reckon to have a peculiar virtue, and such are con- 

 stantly seen hanging to dry between the pillars of 

 the temple. Many purchase their shrouds at Mecca, 

 persuaded tkat if their corpse be buried in cloth 

 wetted with the holy water, the peace of the soui 

 after death will be more effectually secured. 



The service of the temple employs a vast number 

 of the inhabitants, including khatabs, imams, muftis, 

 muezzins, ulemas, eunuchs, lamplighters, guides, 

 turnkeys, scavengers, with a host of other menials, 

 all of whom receive regular pay from the mosque, 

 besides their share of presents made to it by the 

 pilgrims. The Meccawees are proud of being na- 

 tives of the Holy City ; in this respect they con- 

 sider themselves under the special care of Providence, 

 and favoured beyond all other nations. In former 

 times the town is said to have contained more than 

 100,000 souls; Burckhardt reckoned them under 

 30,000, besides from 2000 to 4000 Abyssinians 

 and black slaves. From the barrenness of the sur- 

 rounding territory, it depends almost entirely on 

 the lucrative traffic with the haj-caravans, the an- 

 nual arrival of which converts its dusty streets into 

 he largest and richest marts in the East. 



