220 



HEJAZ. 



from the circular pavement to the colonnade, is co- 

 vered at the time of evening prayer with carpets of 

 Egyptian manufacture, from sixty to eighty feet in 

 length and four in breadth, which are rolled up 

 after the devotions are over. It is only, however, 

 during the time of prayer that the sanctity of the 

 mosque is regarded. Every hour of the day per- 

 sons may be seen under the colonnades reading the 

 Koran, or hearing lectures delivered by the ulemas 

 on religious subjects. There many poor Indians 

 and negroes spread their mats, where they are al- 

 lowed to eat and sleep ; and at noon loiterers come 

 to repose under the cool shade of the piazza. In 

 other parts of it are public schools, where the stick 

 of the pedagogue is in constant action among noisy 

 groups of children. Winding sheets and other linens 

 washed in the Zemzem water, are constantly seen 

 hanging to dry between the pillars; for many pilgrims 

 purchase their shrouds (keffen) at Mecca, believing 

 that if their corpse be wrapped in linen which has 

 been wetted in holy water, the peace of the soul 

 after death will be more eifectually secured. The 

 square is used as a play-ground for boys ; and ser- 

 vants carry luggage across it, to pass by the near- 

 est route from one quarter of the city to another. 

 Here, too, men of business meet and converse on 

 their affairs ; and sometimes the precincts are so full 

 of mendicants and diseased people lying about in 

 the midst of their tattered baggage, as to make the 

 place resemble an hospital rather than a temple ; 

 even the Kaaba itself is rendered the scene of such 

 indecencies as cannot be particularly described, and 

 which are practised not only with impunity, but it 

 may be almost said without concealment. 



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