THE MOHAMMEDAN PILGRIMAGE. 219 



usually preached by the Cadi of Mecca. The whole 

 multitude now unpitch their tents, press forward to- 

 wards the mountain, and cover its sides from top to 

 bottom. The orator takes his stand on the stone-plat- 

 form near the top, whence he addresses the crowed. 

 The discourse lasts till sunset, and no pilgrim, 

 although he may have visited all the holy places 

 of Mecca, is entitled to the name of hajji unless he 

 has been present on this occasion. 



The cadi, whom Burckhardt describes as mounted 

 on a richly-caparisoned camel, read his sermon from 

 a book in Arabic, which he held in his hand ; at inter- 

 vals of every four or five minutes he paused, and 

 stretched forth his arms to implore blessings on his 

 hearers ; while the congregation around and before 

 him waved the skirts of their ihrams over their 

 heads, and rent the air with shouts of " Lebeik, Al- 

 lahuma, lebeik !" (Here we are at thy commands, 

 O God !) During the wavings of the white garments 

 by the dense crowd, the side of the mountain had 

 the appearance of a cataract of water, and the green 

 umbrellas of the myriads of hajjis sitting on their 

 camels below bore some resemblance to a verdant 

 lawn. The sermon lasted nearly three hours, dur- 

 ing which the cadi was constantly wiping his eyes ; 

 for the law enjoins the preacher to be moved with 

 feelings of compunction, and to consider tears as 

 evidence that he is divinely illuminated, and that his 

 prayers are acceptable. 



The effect of this scene upon the audience was 

 extremely various. Some of the pilgrims were cry- 

 ing loudly, weeping, and beating their breasts for 

 their sins ; others stood in silent reflection, with 

 tears of adoration in their eyes, But these peni- 

 tents were mostly foreigners. The natives of Ilejaz, 

 and the Turkish soldiers, spent the time in convers- 

 ing and joking, and imitating the waving of the 

 ihrams by violent gestures as if in mockery. Par- 

 ities of Arabs v/ere quietly smoking their nargiles 3 



