THE MOHAMMEDAN PILGRIMAGE. 



CHAPTER VI. 



The Mohammedan Pilgrimage. 



The Pilgrim-caravans Their different Routes Description and 

 Number of Pilgrims The Mahmal The Ihram Duties of the 

 Pilgrims on arriving at Mecca Walk to Safra and Omra Jour- 

 ney to Arafat Sermon of the Cadi Curious Appearance of the 

 Scene Stoning of the Devil The Feast of Sacrifice Return 

 of the Procession to Mecca Visit to the Interior of the Kaaba 

 Departure of the Caravans Altered Appearance of the City 

 Holy Places round Mecca Pilgrimage to Medina Descrip- 

 tion of the City Its Inhabitants Their Character and Occupa- 

 tion The Mosque of the Prophet The famous Tomb of Mo- 

 hammed Ceremonies required of the Hajjis Servants and Re- 

 venues of the Mosque Sacred Places near Medina Return of 

 the Pilgrims Bedr Suez Convent of St Catherine Regula- 

 tions and Hospitality of the Monks Places of superstitious Re- 

 sort about Mount Sinai The Cave of Elijah The Rock of Me- 

 ribah Gebel Mokkateb or the Written Mountains The Con- 

 vent near Tor Gebel Narkous or Mountain of the Bell. 



THE law of the Koran, as is well known, enjoins 

 on every Mussulman, who has the means, to per- 

 form a pilgrimage to Mecca once at least in his life. 

 Dulhajja, as the name imports, is the month pecu- 

 liarly set apart for the performance of this solem- 

 nity. To those whom indispensable occupations 

 confine at home the law permits a substitution of 

 prayers; but even this is often evaded, and the 

 duty executed by commission at the expense of a 

 few dollars. Formerly, when devotional zeal was 

 more ardent, the difficulties of the journey were 



