SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



335 



THE ZEM-ZEM WATER OF .MECCA. 

 By C. Ainsworth Mitchell, B.A. (Oxon), F.I.C. 



rnHE Zem-zem well of Mecca is probably the 

 -*- most celebrated well in the world. To all 

 Mohammedans it is an object, of especial venera- 

 tion, whilst among Europeans it has the reputa- 

 tion of having been the means of disseminating 

 more than one outbreak of cholera. It is pointed 

 to as the identical well from which Hagar filled 

 her bottle of water when driven forth with her son 

 into the wilderness, though the tradition appears 

 tohave a modern origin. Various derivations of 

 the name "Zem-zem" have been given. According 

 to some it is a word formed in imitation of the 

 splashing of its waters ; whilst others attribute its 

 origin to "Zam! zam ! " ("Fill ! fill ! "), Hagar's 

 exclamation at the well. Others a°'ain connect it 



the analysis of the Zem-zem water shows extreme 

 pollution, or that the well has been the medium of 

 spreading infection far and wide. The water is 

 not only drunk in Mecca, but is exported to all 

 parts of the world for the use of the faithful, and 

 a great trade is done in the sale of bottles and 

 vessels to the pilgrims. 



The curious tin bottle shown in the accompany- 

 ing sketch is one of several brought back from 

 Mecca by Sir Richard Burton in 1853, and given to 

 the present writer by Lady Burton shortly before 

 her death. Readers of Burton's "Pilgrimage to 

 Mecca " will remember how, disguising himself as 

 a Mohammedan dervish, and risking his life, he 

 succeeded in making his way to Mecca and taking; 



&9S. 



Tin Bottle of Water from the Holy Well, Mecca. 

 Actual Size 3i in. Diameter x 2 in. Width. 



with the mythology of the old fire-worshippers. 

 Be this as it may, the well has long been regarded 

 as peculiarly sacred, and miraculous properties are 

 attributed to its water. 



Each pilgrim to Mecca makes a point of drink- 

 ing and bathing in it ; and as the supply is naturally 

 limited, an Arab stands on the parapet of the well 

 and draws up the water. A pilgrim then advances 

 and receives the contents on his head. He drinks 

 what he can, and the remainder of the water flows 

 down over him and falls through a grating into the 

 well, whence it is again drawn, to be poured over 

 succeeding pilgrims. 



When we consider that this practice has been 

 going on year after year, it is not surprising that 



part in all the ceremonies at the tomb of the prophet . 

 One of the objects of his pilgrimage was to see the 

 Zem-zem well and obtain some of it> water, and 

 his account of its properties is well worth 

 quoting : — " The produce of Zem-zem is held in 

 great esteem. It is used for drinking and religious 

 ablution, but for no baser purposes, and the 

 Meccans advise pilgrims always to break their fast 

 with it. It is apt to cause boils, and I never saw 

 a stranger drink it without a wry face. Sale is 

 decidedly correct in his assertion : the flavour is a 

 salt-bitter, much resembling an infusion of a tea- 

 spoonful of Epsom salts in a large tumbler of 

 tepid water. Moreover, it is exceedingly ' heavy * 

 to the digestion. For this reason Turks and other 



