MECCA. 199 



The vices of pilfering and theft are not prevalent 

 at Mecca ; robberies are seldom heard of ; although 

 rogues avail themselves of such opportunities during 

 the pilgrimage, and are tempted by the negligence 

 of the inhabitants in not using locks or bars. The 

 streets abound with beggars, who are entirely sup- 

 ported by the charity of strangers. Many adopt 

 mendicity as a profession, and have a ready stock 

 of pious sentences, which they address to all pas- 

 sengers. Some of them are extremely importunate, 

 and demand alms in a tone of authority little ac- 

 cordant with their condition. Mecca is called the 

 paradise of beggars, and this may account both for 

 the number and the insolence of that class. The 

 Meccawees are proud of being natives of the Holy 

 City and countrymen of their Prophet. In this re- 

 spect they consider themselves favoured beyond all 

 other nations, and under the special care of Provi- 

 dence. The consequence is, that they are haughty 

 and intolerant towards Christians and Jews, who 

 profess a different creed ; and though they do not 

 openly persecute them, their name is always coupled 

 with some opprobrious and contemptuous epithet. 

 The sincerity of their own profession, however, 

 does not correspond with their outward zeal. Such 

 of them as have no particular interest in assuming 

 the appearance of extreme strictness are very neg- 

 ligent in observing both the forms and precepts of 

 their religion, thinking it enough to utter pious 

 ejaculations in public, or comply in trivial matters. 

 In imitation of the Prophet, their mustachios are cut 

 short, and their beard kept regularly under the scis- 

 sors ; in like manner they allow the ends of the tur- 

 ban to fall loosely over the cap : they put antimony 

 on their eyelids, and have always a messouak, or 

 toothbrush, in their hands, because such was the 

 custom of Mohammed. They know by heart many 

 passages of the Koran and the sacred traditions, and 

 quote or allude to them every moment ; but they 



