MEDINA. 227 



The tombs of Kadijah and Amina the Prophet's mo- 

 ther are also objects of veneration. The guardian- 

 ship of these places is shared by several families, 

 principally sheriffs, who attend by turns with a train 

 of servants, and generally expect a contribution 

 from the purse of the visiters. Most of the hills in 

 the vicinity are held as consecrated ground, from 

 being the scene of the miracles or revelations of the 

 Apostle. On the top of Gebel Kobeis, the hajjis are 

 shown the place were the moon was split ; at Gebel 

 Tor, the cavern where the fugitive Prophet and his 

 companions took shelter in their flight to Medina ; 

 and at Hira, now called Gebel Nour, or the i\Iountain 

 of Light, the small grotto is pointed out in the red 

 granite; rock, where several passages of the Koran 

 were revealed by the angel Gabriel. But the tales 

 applied to these places are not supported by any au- 

 thentic traditions ; and a journey to them is enjoined, 

 less out of *iy feeling of reverence than from a 

 desire to extort money. 



A more attractive object of devotion is the tomb 

 of Mohammed at Medina ; and such of the hajjis as 

 do not immediately disperse to their homes, usually 

 join the Syrian caravan, or form themselves into 

 small detachments, who are supplied with camels 

 by the Bedouins. Their mode of travelling is not 

 the most convenient ; some being mounted on the 

 back of the loaded animal, and others sitting, one on 

 each side, in panniers or machines (she/cdafs), which 

 must be balanced with great care. According to 

 the usual practice in Hejaz, the camels walk in a 

 single row, those behind being tied to the tails of 

 those that precede them ; so that a mistake com- 

 mitted by the foremost leads the whole astray. A 

 journey of ten or eleven days (about 270 miles), 

 through sandy plains, irregular ridges of mountains, 

 and cultivated valleys, brings the pilgrims to the 

 city of the Prophet. On the whole of this route 

 there is not a public khan; nor is any provision 



