62 



A Relation of the Chap. XII. 



CHAP*. XII. 



Of the Prefent, which the Grand Seignor fends, every Year, 



to SMechdi 



The Principal Heads. 



The third part of the (Revenue of Egypt, holt) employ d. Ihe great 

 Wealth of the Sheck o/Mecha. Ceremonies obferVd at Maho- 

 met's Tomb. The Caravan of 'Cairo. The ^Prefent fent from 

 Mecha to the Great Mogul. The Opinion of the Mahumetans, 

 concerning Mecha and Medina. 



T 



fubjeéb 



Hat I make here a particular Chapter of the Prefent, which the Grand 

 Seignor fends every Year to Mecha, is occafion'd by this third part of the 

 Revenue of Egypt, which is peculiarly defign'd for it -, and upon this 

 Confideration withall, That I have lingular Remarks to make upon that 



The h' d m Three Millions of Livers, of Twelve, of annual Revenue, which the Kingdom of 

 of the Revenue ^â)?* P aves tne Grand Seignor, are partly expended in the Rich Carpet, and the Sump- 

 o/Egyptjfcw tuous Tent, which he fends to the Sbeckj every year, in honour to Mahomet's Tomb. 

 emplo/d. Another part goes to the payment of thofe who ferve in the Mofqueys ■■> As for in- 

 ifonce, the Imans, who are their Priefts h the Cheuchs, who are their Preachers > the 

 Muezims 3 who, by their noife on the Towers of the Mofqueys, call the people to their 

 Devotions ■> and the Kaijms of Mecha and Medina, who look to, and keep clean the 

 Mofqueys, and light the Lamps. We muft alfo put into the Account of thefe Three 

 Millions, the Suftenance of all the Pilgrims for the (pace of Seventeen dayes, the Grand 

 Seignor fending, for that end, a fufficient Summe to the Sbeck. This Shec\£ who is, 

 as 'twere, the Supream Perfon upon the fcore of the Law, and the High Prieft of all 

 the Mahumetansy what Country and Seel: foever they be of, makes the poor ignorant 

 people believe, that there come every year to Mecha, Seventy thoufand Pilgrims, Men 

 and Women i and if that number were not compleat, the Angels would come in hu- 

 mane forms, to make it up. 



fhegmtwealih This Prince, whom we call the Sheck^ for whom all the Mahumetans have a great 

 of the Sheck Veneration, is very Rich, and very powerful, and that may be eafily conje&ur'd, by 

 of Mecha, u the Prefents, which he receives every year from the Grand Seignor, and the other Ma- 

 immetan Princes. Thefe Prefents are all his own, to be dilpos'd of as he pleafès, at 

 the end of the Year, when new ones are fent to him. He makes his advantage alio 

 of all the Prefents that are made by the Pilgrims, and of the Summes of Mony, which 

 thole very Princes fend him, to be diftributed in Alms, which he alfo dilpofes of as 

 he pleafes i and all thefe Prefents put together, make him fuch a Revenue as is hardly 

 imaginable. For Mahumetifme fpreads very much into Europe, Afia, and Africa, and 

 that much more then is commonly believ'd, as I thall more diftindtly make it appear, 

 at the end of my Relation, in a particular Chapter, which I defign for the handling 

 of that matter. 



Ceremonies oh- From feveral Parts of the World, there come Caravans to Mecha, and when the 

 fmPd at Mi- Devotion is to begin, the High Prieft, ailifted by all the people belonging to the Law, 

 hornet's Tomb, fpends night and day, in faying of Prayers, and performing the neceflary Ceremonies.- 

 On the Seventh day, all the Pilgrims are affembled together before the Sheets Tent, 



who 



