220 THE MOHAMMEDAN PILGRIMAGE. 



while the frequenters of the cafes, some of which 

 were kept by piibhc women, by their loud laughter 

 and riotous conduct, gave great annoyance to the 

 devotees in their neighbour?iood. 



To every stranger, whether Mohammedan, Jew, 

 or Christian, such an assemblage must furnish a 

 curious and impressive spectacle. " It was a sight," 

 says Pitts, " enough to pierce one's heart, to behold 

 so many in their garments of humility and mortifi- 

 cation, with their naked heads, and cheeks watered 

 with tears ; and to hear their gi'ievous sighs and 

 sobs, begging earnestly for the remission of their 

 sins." Many of the poor pilgrims are in an ecstasy, 

 •and believe themselves in actual possession of para- 

 dise. " It is here," observes Ali Bey, " that the 

 grand spectacle of the Mussulman pilgrimage must 

 be seen. An innumerable crowd of men from all 

 nations, and of all colours, coming from the extremi- 

 ties of the earth, through a thousand dangers, and 

 encountering fatigues of every description, to adore 

 together the same Deity ! The native of Circassia 

 presents his hand in a friendly manner to the Ethio- 

 pian, or the negro of Guinea ; the Indian and the 

 Persian embrace the inhabitants of Barbary and 

 Morocco ; all looking upon each other as brothers, 

 or individuals of the same family united by the bonds 

 of religion, and the greater part speaking or under- 

 standing more or less the same language. What a 

 curb to sin," adds this zealous Mussulman, " what 

 an encouragement to virtue ! but what a misfortune, 

 that with all these advantages we should not be 

 better than the Calvinists !" 



By the time the cadi had finished his discourse, the 

 greater part of the audience seemed to be wearied. 

 The sun was descending behind the western moun- 

 tains as he shut the book and pronounced the last 

 greeting of " Lebeik." Instantly the crowds pre- 

 pared to quit Arafat on their return ; those behind 

 hurrying and pressing on those before ; so that with 



