246 THE MOHAMMEDAN PILGRIMAGE. 



was surrounded with a wall of linen cloth 800 

 paces in circuit, the sole entrance to which was 

 guarded by eunuchs in splendid dresses. Around 

 this enclosure were pitched the tents of the men 

 who formed her numerous suite. The beautiful em- 

 broidery on the exterior of this linen palace, with 

 the various colours displayed in every part of it, 

 must have reminded the spectator of the gorgeous 

 descriptions in the Tales of the Thousand and One 

 Nights. Some of the Mecca merchants, especially 

 the family of Jelani, had very elegant tents ; this 

 being almost the only occasion when the Arabian 

 grandees ever venture to display their wealth in the 

 presence of a pasha. 



Burckhardt estimated the whole persons assem- 

 bled on the plain at about 70,000 j and the number 

 of camels from 20,000 to 25,000. This seems a fa- 

 vourite number with the Mohammedans ; but it is 

 deserving of remark, that he is the third traveller 

 who has made the same calculation. Pitts and Ali 

 Bey mention this as being the smallest number 

 that must necessarily attend at any pilgrimage on 

 Mount Arafat j and, in every case where there are 

 fewer, angels are sent down from heaven to make up 

 the deficiency. Burckhardt's 70,000 appears a tole- 

 rable assemblage, even without the addition of celes- 

 tial recruits ; yet he says that two only of the five 

 or six regular caravans had made their appearance 

 that year. When the Spanish Mussulman perform- 

 ed this ceremony, he reckoned the number of hajjis at 

 80,000 men, 2000 women, and 1000 children; who 

 must have presented a curious spectacle, with their 

 60,000 or 70,000 camels, asses, and horses, marching 

 through the narrow valley in a cloud of dust, carry- 



