208 THE MOHAMMEDAN PILGRIMAGE. 



cants ; and their wretched appearance would make 

 them worthy objects of commiseration, were it not 

 known that they assume a tone and character of 

 outward misery, because it ensures them a subsist- 

 ence without labour. 



None of these paupers bear a more respectable 

 character for industry than the negroes of Tekrouris, 

 as they are called, who employ themselves as por- 

 ters for carrying goods, cleaning the court-yards, or 

 fetching firewood from the neighbouring mountains. 

 Some of them manufacture small baskets and mats 

 of date-leaves, or little hearths of clay painted yel- 

 low and red, which they sell to the hajjis, Avho boil 

 their coffeepots upon them. Others serve as water- 

 carriers, or prepare bouza, or occupy themselves in 

 any species of manual labour. 



Among the pilgrims are to be found dervises of 

 every sect and order in the Turkish empire ; many 

 of them are madmen, or at least assuming the ap- 

 pearance of insanity ; and as the Mohammedans 

 regard them as saints or inspired beings, sent as a 

 blessing to them from Heaven, they are much re- 

 spected by the devotees, who scruple not to fill their 

 pockets with money. The behaviour of some of 

 them is indecent, and so violent, that many willingly 

 give them a trifle to escape from their importuni- 

 ties. Most of the pilgrims that arrive in detach- 

 ments and before the caravans, are professed mer- 

 chants, who occupy the interval very pleasantly in 

 disposing of their wares, praying, smoking, reading 

 the Koran, enjoying the gratifications of sense, and 

 anticipating the happiness of futurity. Except men- 

 dicants, almost every hajji combines with his reli- 

 gious duties some little mercantile adventure, with 

 a view to lessen his expenses. The Moggrebins, 

 for example, bring their red bonnets and woollen 

 cloaks ; the Western Turks, shoes and slippers, 

 hardware, embroidered stuffs, sweetmeats, amber, 

 trinkets of European manufacture, knit silk purses, 



