THE MOHAMMEDAN PILGRIMAGE. 239 



piece of silk. It was not used by the caliphs, hav- 

 ing been first introduced (A. D. 1274) by the Sultan 

 of Egypt. Since that time the different Mussulman 

 sovereigns have considered the mahmal as a privi- 

 lege, and a badge of their own royalty.* On the re- 

 turn of the caravans, the sacred camel, which is 

 never after employed in labour, and the book of 

 prayers, are objects of great veneration among the 

 lower class, or such as have not been at Mecca : 

 men and women flock in crowds to kiss it, and ob- 

 tain a blessing by rubbing their foreheads upon it. 



The awful sanctity of Mecca and its territory ren- 

 ders it necessary that every traveller, whether on a 

 religious visit or not, shall undergo a certain trans- 

 formation in dress the moment he enters the Belled 

 el Haram, or Holy Land of Islam.t From what- 

 ever quarter the hajjis arrive, they are instantly re- 



* " The mahmal (of Damascus) is a large pavilion of black silk 

 pitched upon the back of a very great camel, and spreading its cur- 

 tains all round about the beast down to the ground. This camel 

 wants not also his ornaments of large ropes of beads, fish-shells, 

 fox -tails, and other such fantastic finery, hanged upon his head, neck, 

 and legs. All this is designed for the Alcoran, which thus rides in 

 state both to and from Mecca, and is accompanied with a rich new 

 carpet sent every year by the grand seignior for the covering of 

 Mahomet's tomb, having the old one brought back in return for 

 it, which is esteemed of an inestimable value after having been so 

 long next neighbour to the Prophet's rotten bones." MaundreWs 

 Travels. 



j- The Belled el Haram is properly the sacred district round 

 Mecca, which has the privileges of a sanctuary or asylum, the law 

 having forbidden the shedding of blood, killing of game, or cutting 

 of trees within it. This sanctity, however, is but little regarded ; 

 criminals are slain without scruple, persons have been assassinated 

 even under the walls of the Kaaba, and battles, both with infan- 

 try and cavalry, fought within the enclosure of the Temple. The 

 limits of this sacred territory are differently represented. At pre- 

 sent it is generally supposed to be bounded within those positions 

 where the ihram is assumed in approaching Mecca, viz. Hadda, 

 on the west ; Ayfan, on the north ; Wady Mohrem, on the east ; 

 and Zat Ork, on the south. Ali Bey mistakes when he considered 

 this district a particular province. Medina has the same privileges, 

 but they are held in as little veneration. 



