194 HEJAZ. 



fering in this respect from the brackish wells in the 

 town. 



On the north side of the Zemzem stand two small 

 ugly buildings, one behind the other, called kobbe- 

 iein, in which are kept water-jars, lamps, carpets, 

 brooms, mats, and other articles. They are covered 

 with painted domes ; but are not considered as 

 forming any part of the mosque, no religious im- 

 portance being attached to them. The gravel- 

 ground, from the circular pavement to the colonnade, 

 is covered at the time of evening prayer with carpets 

 of Egyptian manufacture, from sixty to eighty feet 

 in length and four in breadth, which are rolled up 

 after the devotions are over. It is only, however, 

 during the time of prayer, that the sanctity of the 

 mosque is regarded. Every hour of the day per- 

 sons may be seen under the colonnades reading the 

 Koran, or hearing lectures delivered by the ulemas 

 on religious subjects. There many poor Indians 

 and negroes spread their mats, where they are al- 

 lowed to eat and sleep ; and at noon loiterers come 

 to repose under the cool shade of the piazza. In 

 other parts of it are public schools, where the stick 

 of the pedagogue is in constant action among noisy 

 groups of children. Winding-sheets and other linens 

 washed hi the Zemzem water, are constantly seen 

 hanging to dry between the pillars ; for many pil- 

 grims purchase their shrouds {keffen) at Mecca, be- 

 lieving that if their corpse be wrapped in linen 

 which has been wetted in holy water, the peace of 

 the soul after death will be more effectually secured. 

 The square is used as a play-ground for boys ; and 

 servants carry luggage across it, to pass by the 

 nearest route from one quarter of the city to another. 

 Here, too, men of business meet and converse on 

 their affairs ; and sometimes the precincts are so full 

 of mendicants and diseased people lying about in 

 the midst of their tattered baggage, as to make the 



