262 THE MOHAMMEDAN PILGRIMAGE. 



rated from it only by a narrow street, while others 

 are close upon the walls. There are five minarets 

 and four gates ; the principal one, by which the haj- 

 jis are obliged to enter on their first visit, is ex- 

 tremely handsome, its sides being inlaid with mar- 

 ble and glazed tiles of various colours, which give it a 

 very dazzling appearance. Immediately before it 

 is a small fountain, where it is usual for the devo- 

 tees to perform their ablutions. There are a few 

 steps of ascent at all the entrances, the area of the 

 court being on a higher level than the streets. In 

 the centre of the northern division of the square 

 stands a small building with a vaulted roof, where 

 the lamps of the mosque are kept. Near it is an en- 

 closure of low wooden railings, which contains some 

 palm-trees held sacred by the Moslem, because 

 they are believed to have been planted by Fatima. 

 There are no sacred pigeons as at Mecca ; but the 

 quantity of woollen carpets spread on diiferent parts, 

 where the most dirty Arabs and the best-dressed 

 strangers kneel side by side, have rendered this 

 " inviolable Haram" the favourite abode of millions 

 of other animals less harmless than turtle-doves, 

 and a great pest to all visiters, who transfer them 

 from their persons to their private lodgings, which 

 in consequence swarm with vermin. 



It is in the south-east corner of this division that 

 the famous sepulchre of Mohammed is placed, so de- 

 tached from the walls as to leave a space of about 

 twenty-five feet on the one side and fifteen on the 

 other. To defend its hallowed contents from the ap- 

 proach of the impure, or the superstitious adoration 

 of the visiter, it is surrounded by an enclosure called 

 El Hejra, in the form of an irregular square of nearly 

 twenty paces, arched overhead and supported by co- 



