MECCA. 231 



consequence totally neglected. The astronomer of 

 the mosque learns to know the exact time of the 

 sun's passing the meridian, to regulate the hours of 

 prayer ; and the few druggists, or venders of medi- 

 cine, deal in nothing but miraculous balsams and 

 infallible elixirs; their potions are all sweet and 

 agreeable, while the musk or aloes-wood which they 

 burn in their shops diffuses a delicious odour that 

 tends to establish their reputation. 



As for the number of inhabitants in Mecca, tra- 

 vellers have found it very difficult to calculate with 

 any degree of certainty ; registers are never kept, 

 and even the amount of houses is not ascertained. 

 In former times it is said to have contained more 

 than 100,000 souls ; and when sacked by the Kar- 

 mathian chief in 936, his ferocious soldiers are sup- 

 posed to have put more than 30,000 to the sword. 

 AH Bey reckoned that it did not shelter more than 

 from 16,000 to 18,000; Burckhardt, a later autho- 

 rity, gives as the result of his inquiries, for the po- 

 pulation of the city and suburbs between 25,000 

 and 30,000 stationary inhabitants, besides from 2000 

 to 4000 Abyssinians and black slaves. The dwell- 

 ings, however, are capable of containing three times 

 that number, some quarters of the suburbs being 

 entirely deserted and in ruins ; so that, unless the 

 zeal of the hajjis revive, the capital of Islam must 

 gradually sink into decay. 



