THE MOHAMMEDAN PILGRIMAGE. 225 



celebrate the day of the feast or beiram. The long 

 street of Muna is converted into a fair ; sheds, booths, 

 and tents being fitted up as shops for provisions and 

 merchandise of all kinds. The Syrian bargains for 

 the goods of India ; the stranger from Borneo and 

 Timbuctoo exhibits his wares to the natives of Geor- 

 gia and Samarcand ; while the poor hajjis cry their 

 small stock, which they carry on their heads. The 

 mixture of nations and tongues, costumes and com- 

 modities, is more striking here than at Mecca. At 

 night the valley blazes with illuminations, fireworks, 

 discharges of artillery, and bonfires on the hills. 

 The second day of the feast ends the pilgrimage to 

 Arafat ; when the devotees return, to Mecca, testify- 

 ing their delight by songs, loud talking, and laugh- 

 ter. Many of the indigent pilgrims remain behind 

 to feast on the offals and putrefying carcasses of the 

 victims that strew the valley. The starved Indians 

 cut the meat into slices for their travelling-provi- 

 sions, which they dry in the sun, or in the mosque, 

 where they are spread on the pavement, or suspended 

 on cords between the columns. 



On arriving at Mecca, a repetition of the previous 

 ceremonies takes place. The pilgrims must visit the 

 Kaaba, which, in the mean time, has been covered 

 with the new black clothing. The visit to the inte- 

 rior of this building is performed by immense crowds, 

 though it forms no part of the religious duty of the 

 hajjis. On opening the door, which takes place an 

 hour after sunrise, a rush is made up the steps, and 

 sometimes over the heads of the people, in spite of 

 the eunuchs, who endeavour to keep order with their 

 sticks, which fall particularly heavy on such as omit 

 to drop a fee into their hands ; for all the oflScers, 

 from the sheriff who holds the silver key to be kissed 

 at the entrance, to the lowest menial, expect to be 

 paid. The hall is immediately filled, when every 

 visiter must pray eight rikats, and perform sixteen 

 prostrations. Nothing but sighing and moaning is 



