the; hub of the; Moslem universe, the sacred ka'aba at mecca 



The Ka'aba stands in the center of the sacred mosque, Mesjid el Haram. The colonnades 

 which surround it are used for housing pilgrims. All the streets of the city slope toward 

 this House of God (Beit Allah). 



peace of the people and in fraternity is 

 the bond of union." 



The Turkish Government, however, 

 was most unsuccessful in introducing 

 liberty and reform in the province of 

 Hejaz, as it has been in other portions of 

 the empire. Their task, even had they 

 made a conscientious effort, would have 

 been especially difficult here because of 

 the mutual hatred between Turks and 

 Arabs, the restless character of the Bed- 



ouin population, and the utter collapse of 

 all respect for authority after the Turk- 

 ish defeat in the Balkan War. The 

 Arabs have at last insisted upon ruling 

 their sacred cities themselves and have 

 placed the Grand Sherif of Mecca, El 

 Husein Ibn Ali, on the temporal throne 

 of the new kingdom, as well as upon the 

 spiritual throne of the whole Moslem 

 world, save that portion dominated by 

 the Sultan of Turkey. 



172 



