HEJAZ. 



lamps of thick green glass of a globular shape, which 

 are always lighted after sunset. 



Opposite the four sides of the Kaaba, and in the 

 circular line of the pillars,, stand four other small 

 buildings, called makams, where the imams of the 

 four orthodox sects, namely, the Hanifees, Shafees, 

 Hanbalees, and Malekees, take their station, and 

 guide the congregation in their prayers. The Ma- 

 kam Ibrahim, or Place of Abraham, faces the door of 

 the Kaaba, and is supported by six pillars. Near this 

 structure stands themambar,or pulpit of the mosque, 

 which is of fine white marble, with many sculptured 

 ornaments. A straight narrow staircase leads up to 

 the post of the khatib or preacher, who officiates 

 wrapped up in a white cloak, which covers his head 

 and body ; two green flags are placed on each side 

 of him, and in his hand he holds a stick ; a practice 

 also observed in Egypt and Syria in memory of 

 the first ages of Islam, when the preacher found it 

 necessary to be armed for fear of being surprised. 

 Here sermon is delivered every Friday, and on 

 certain festivals. It is near the mambar that visiters 

 on entering deposite their shoes ; none being permit- 

 ted to walk round the Kaaba with covered feet. 



The only other building within the court worthy 

 of notice is the Bir Zemzem or Zemzem Well. 

 This building, which was erected about the end of 

 the seventeenth century, is a square of massive con- 

 struction, with an entrance opening into the apart- 

 ment which contains the spring. The room is taste- 

 fully ornamented with marbles of various colours : 

 it is rather more than seventeen feet square, and 

 lighted by eight windows. The depth of the well 

 is said to be fifty-six feet to the surface of the wa- 



