THE MOHAMMEDAN PILGRIMAGE. 233 



held to increase the merit of the act ; but at pre- 

 sent many, instead of encountering the perils of de- 

 serts and robbers by land, adopt the more cheap and 

 easy mode of travelling by sea. The regular haj- 

 caravans are six or seven in number, though they 

 do not always make their appearance together, nor 

 even perform the visit annually. That from Syria, 

 which used to be accompanied by the caliphs in per- 

 son, sets out from Constantinople, and collects the 

 pilgrims from Northern Asia until it reaches Da- 

 mascus. During the whole route, for the sake of 

 safety and convenience, it is attended from town to 

 town by the armed force of the district. From Da- 

 mascus to Medina it moves with great pomp across 

 the desert, a journey of thirty days ; and here a 

 change of camels, for which the Bedouins contract, 

 is necessary ; the Anatolian breed being unable to 

 bear the fatigues of such an expedition. The Pasha 

 of Damascus or one of his principal officers always 

 attends it, and gives the signal for encamping and 

 departing by firing a musket. The different classes 

 of hajjis know their exact stations, and always 

 place their tents according to their town or pro- 

 vince. At every stage is a castle or storehouse 

 for provisions, with a small garrison, and a large 

 tank at which the camels water. These stations 

 are seldom farther distant from each other than a 

 march of eleven or twelve hours. The usual time 

 of travelling is from three o'clock in the afternoon 

 to an hour or two after sunrise next day, torches 

 being lighted during the night. The Egyptian ca- 

 ravan, which starts from Cairo, is under the same 

 regulations as the Syrian. Its route is more dan- 

 gerous and fatiguing, lying by Suez and Akaba, 



