MECCA. 227 



hibited by the law. The less wealthy inhabitants, 

 who cannot purchase so dear a commodity, use a 

 fermented liquor made of raisins, while the lower 

 classes drink bouza. Tobacco., hashish, and other 

 intoxicating substances, are openly smoked, and 

 cards played in almost every coifeehouse. 



The inhabitants of Mecca have but two kinds of 

 employment, trade and the service of the Beitullah. 

 Many of the latter calling, which may be said to in- 

 clude one-half of the population, engage privately in 

 commercial affairs ; but the greater proportion have 

 no other support than their wages, or what they can 

 extort from the charity of pilgrims. The most im- 

 pudent, idle, and worthless individuals, adopt the 

 profession of guides ; and as there is no want of 

 these qualities, nor of a sufficient demand for their 

 services, this class of rogues is very numerous. 

 They besiege strangers with their importunities 

 from morn to night ; invite themselves to eat and 

 drink at their expense ; and generally contrive in a 

 month to wheedle from the simplicity or piety of their 

 employers as much as will suffice for the expense 

 of their families during the remainder of the year. 

 The position of Mecca, as it is not situated in the di- 

 rect route to any country of consequence, and sur- 

 rounded with perpetual sterility, is unfavourable to 

 commerce ; and but for its being the centre of the 

 religious enthusiasm of the Moslem world, it must 

 have long ago sunk into poverty and insignificance. 

 In ordinary times there is a considerable trade with 

 the Bedouins and inhabitants of Nejed who are in 

 want of India goods, drugs, and articles of dress. 

 The less opulent merchants usually employ their 

 capital in the traffic of corn and provisions ; and, 



