MEDINA. 233 



ho view can be gained into the interior, except 

 through several very small windows, wliich are 

 placed on each of the four sides, about five feet 

 above the ground. The two principal windows, 

 before which visiters stand when they pray, are on 

 the south side, where the iron fence is thinly plated 

 over with silver, having the often-repeated inscrip- 

 tion of " La Illha" carried across it in silver letters. 



Four gates lead into this cage-like enclosure, 

 three of which are kept continually shut, — one only 

 being open night and morning to admit the eunuchs, 

 whose office it is to clean the floor and light the 

 lamps. What appears of the interior is merely a 

 curtain carried round on all sides, resembling a bed, 

 which is of the same height as the railing, and fills 

 nearly the whole space, leaving only an open walk 

 between of a few paces in breadth. This veil is 

 a rich silk brocade, of various colours, interwoven 

 with silver flowers and arabesques ; with a band of 

 inscriptions in gold characters running across the 

 middle, like that on the covering of the Kaaba. 

 Within its holy precincts no person is allowed to 

 enter except the chief eunuchs, who take care of it, 

 and whose business it is to put on during the night 

 the fresh curtain, which is sent from Constantinople 

 whenever the old one is decayed, or when a new 

 sultan ascends the throne. The venerable remnants 

 of this sacred brocade are sent back to the Turkish 

 capital, and serve to cover the tombs of the sove- 

 reigns and princes of the empire. 



It is within this double frame of silk and rails that 

 the ashes of the Prophet repose, along with the 

 remains of his two earliest friends and immediate 

 successors, Abu Beker and Omar. Authors differ 

 as to the respective position of the three tombs ; 

 but they are said to be of plain masonwork, in the 

 form of a chest, and covered with precious stufl^s.* 



* The vulgar story lonar prevalent in Christendom, vvhich sus- 

 pended the Prophet's cofiln in the air at Mecca by the action of 



U2 



