266 THE MOHAMMEDAN PILGRIMAGE. 



prayer with four prostrations. His next process is 

 to advance slowly towards the railing of the hejra, 

 before the window of which, on the south side, he 

 takes his stand. With arms half raised he addresses 

 his invocations to the Prophet, repeating the words 

 of the Moslem creed, besides about twenty of the 

 different surnames or honourable titles of Moham- 

 med. Then follows a prayer soliciting the Apostle's 

 intercession in heaven, in which he includes such of 

 his friends and relations as he pleases ; and if he is 

 delegated in the pilgrimage for another, he is bound 

 here to mention the name of his principal. This 

 done, the visiter must remain a few minutes with 

 his head pressed close against the window in silent 

 adoration ; after which he goes through the same 

 entreaties and humble attitudes at the other win- 

 dows opposite the tombs of Abu Beker and Omar. 

 A prayer and four prostrations is also addressed be- 

 fore the tomb of the " bright blooming Fatima," as 

 she is always called ; and this, with a salutation to 

 the Deity on returning to the rodha before leaving 

 the mosque, completes the ceremony of the ziara 

 or visit, the performance of which occupies at most 

 about twenty minutes. 



Certain gifts and gratuities are exacted of every 

 pilgrim ; the eunuchs and porters expect their fees 

 as a matter of right ; privileged persons sit at diffe- 

 rent stations to receive his donations ; and beggars 

 beset him at the gate imploring his charity. The 

 whole visit cost Burckhardt fifteen piastres ; though 

 he states that he might have accomplished it for 

 half the expense. An additional sum is paid by 

 those who enter within the railing of the hejra: 

 admission is granted free to pashas, emirs, and per- 



