THE MOHAMMEDAN PILGRIMAGE. 237 



governor's house ; a prize being always awarded to 

 him who brings the first tidings of its safety. 



The pomp and magnificence of this moving solem- 

 nity are still considerable, though much diminish- 

 ed since the time of the caliphs, both in point of 

 splendour and attendance. When Solyman per- 

 formed the pilgrimage (A. D. 716), 900 camels were 

 employed in transporting his wardrobe alone. Ma- 

 hadi, besides the vast sums he expended in presents, 

 built fine houses at every station between Bagdad 

 and Mecca, and caused them to be splendidly fur- 

 nished. He was the first caliph that carried snow- 

 water with him to cool his sherbet on the road ; a 

 luxury in which he was imitated by many of his 

 successors. Haroun al Raschid, who performed the 

 haj nine times, spent in one of his visits nearly a 

 million and a half of gold dinars (693,750) in 

 presents ; in another, he and his wife Zobeide ac- 

 complished the journey from Bagdad (nearly 1000 

 miles) on foot ; but the merit must have been les- 

 sened, as the whole road was covered daily with fine 

 carpets on which they walked. The retinue of the 

 mother of Mostasem, who visited Mecca in 1231, was 

 composed of 120,000 camels. On a similar occasion 

 the equipage of the Sultan of Egypt consisted of 

 500 of these animals for the transport solely of sweet- 

 meats and confectionary ; 280 for pomegranates, al- 

 monds, and other fruits ; besides having his travel- 

 ling-larder provided with 1000 geese and 3000 fowls. 

 In 1814, the Syrian caravan, which was reckoned 

 small, amounted only to 4000 or 5000 persons, and 

 was attended by 15,000 camels. The Barbary ca- 

 ravan sometimes contained 40,000 men ; but it has 

 not of late exceeded 6000 or 8000. That from Egypt 



VOL. II. p 



