THE MOHAMMEDAN I'lLGRIMACE. 205 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE MOHAMMEDAN PILGRIMAGE. 



The Pilgrim-caravans — Their different Routes — Description and 

 Number of Pilgrims — The Mahmal — The Ihrani — Duties of 

 the Pilgrims on arriving at Mecca — Walk to Safra and Omra 

 — Journey to Arafat — Sermon of the Cadi — Curious Appear- 

 ance of the Scene — Stoning of the Devil — The Feast of Sa- 

 crifice — Return of the Procession to Mecca — Visit to the Inte- 

 rior of the Kaaba— Departure of the Caravans — Altered 

 Appearance of the City — Holy Places round Mecca — Pil- 

 grimage to Medina — Description of the City — Its Inhabitants 

 — Their Character and Occupation — The Mosque of the 

 Prophet — The famous Tomb of Mohammed — Ceremonies 

 required of the Hajjis — Servants and Revenues of the Mosque 

 — Sacred Places near Medina — Return of the Pilgrims — Bedr 

 — Suez — Convent of St. Catherine — Regulations and Hospi- 

 tality of the Monks^Places of Superstitious Resort about 

 Mount Sinai— The Cave of Elijah— The Rock of Meribah— 

 Gebel Mokkateb or the Written Mountains — The Convent 

 near Tor — Gebel Narkous or Mountain of the Bell. 



The law of the Koran, as is well known, enjoins 

 on every Mussulman, who has the means, to per- 

 form a pilgrimage to Mecca once at least in his life. 

 Dulhajja, as the name imports, is the month pecu- 

 liarly set apart for the performance of this solem- 

 nity. To those whom indispensable occupations 

 confine at home, the law permits a substitution of 

 prayers ; but even this is often evaded, and the 

 duty executed by commission at the expense of a 

 few dollars. Formerly, Avhen devotional zeal was 

 more ardent, the difficulties of the journey were 

 held to increase the merit of the act ; but at pres- 

 ent many, instead of encountering the perils of des- 

 .erts and robbers by land, adopt the more cheap and 

 easjymodeoi" travelling by sea. The regular haj- 



YoL. II.— S 



