MEMOIR OF BURCKHARDT. 103 



with irregular ridges of mountains and cultivated 

 valleys. His project was to remain about three 

 weeks at that city, and then to return overland to 

 Egypt, in the hope of being able to visit on his road 

 some ruins, where he expected to find specimens of 

 the most ancient Arabian monuments. In this, 

 however, he was disappointed ; for within a week 

 after his arrival, he was attacked with a fever of 

 the nature of a tertian ague, which kept him con- 

 fined to his carpet until April. As the ceremonies 

 required of the hajjis are here much easier and 

 shorter than at Mecca, he had performed them im- 

 mediately on reaching the place ; it being the law 

 here, as at Mecca, that all travellers and pilgrims 

 must visit the mosque and the holy tomb of Mo- 

 hammed before he undertakes the most trifling 

 business. 



Medina is a well built town, completely sur- 

 rounded by a wall, and supposed to contain be- 

 tween 16,000 and 20,000 inhabitants. Its chief 

 support is drawn from the temple, which resembles 

 that at Mecca, and contains the ashes of the Pro- 

 phet. This famous sepulchre is encircled with a 

 high iron railing, arched overhead, and supported 

 by columns. Near it are the tombs of the first two 

 caliphs, Abu Beker" and Omar, of Fatima, the 

 daughter of Mohammed, and several other saints of 

 the Arabian calendar. All of these of course are 

 visited by the pilgrims, from each of whom certain 

 gifts and fees are exacted. An additional sum is 

 paid by those who enter within the railing of the 



