MEDINA. 267 



sons of rank ; but others must purchase this favour of 

 the eunuchs at the price of twelve or fifteen dollars. 

 Few, however, avail themselves of this indulgence, 

 because there is little to gratify the prying eye of 

 curiosity beyond what falls under their external 

 observation. " All the privileges the hajjis have," 

 says Pitts, " is only to thrust in their heads at the 

 windows between the brass grates, and to petition the 

 (lead juggler, which they do with a wonderful deal 

 of reverence, affection, and zeal." Though the visit 

 to the mosque and tomb are not obligatory on the 

 Faithful, it is thought to be an act highly accept- 

 able to the Deity, and to expiate many sins, while 

 it entitles the visiter at the same time to the patron- 

 age of the Prophet in heaven. The Moslem divines 

 affirm, that a prayer said in sight of the hejra is as 

 efficacious as a thousand said in any other place ex- 

 cept Mecca, and that whoever recites forty prayers in 

 this mosque will be delivered from the torments of 

 hell-fire after death. These reputed virtues attract 

 swarms of pilgrims almost every month in the year, 

 and from all parts of the Mohammedan world. 



The entire superintendence of watching, cleaning, 

 and lighting, is intrusted to the care of forty or fifty 

 eunuchs, who have an establishment of khatibs, 

 muezzins, and mezowars or guides, similar to that 

 of their brethren of the Beitullah. They are persons 

 of far higher importance, and are more richly dressed, 

 though in the same costume. Their usual title is 

 aga ; the chief, or Sheik el Haram, is styled High- 

 ness, and considered the principal person in the town. 

 They have large stipends sent yearly from Constan- 

 tinople, besides a share of the fees and donations 

 of the hajjis. Their number is fixed at 500, and 



