194 
MR- LUCAS'S 
modious pallage with the Cities of Grand Cairo and of Mecca. 
A pilgrimage to the latter, the objefl, from time immemorial^ of 
veneration in Arabia, is prcfcribed to every Muffelman; and 
though the greatell part of the believers in Mahomet, deterred 
by diilance, or retrained by the avocations of bufniefs and the 
feelings of domeilic attachment, content themfelves with im- 
perfect refoliitions of performing at fome future period this ar- 
duous journe^', yet there are perfons, even from the innermoft 
recefles of Africa, who think, that a pofitive injunction of their 
faith is too lolemm for excufes, and too momentous for de- 
lay. Prompted by this urgent confideration, or allured by 
the honourable diftin£lion which attends upon the title of Had- 
gee, the envied appellation of thofe who have vifited the facred 
Temple, a number of the faithful from the Empires of Bor- 
nou and Cailina, from the extenfn^e kingdom of CafFaba, and 
from feveral of the Negro States, refort to Fezzan, and pro- 
ceed from thence, with the caravan, which in the Autumn of 
every fecond or third year takes its departure for Mecca. The 
caravan, which feldom confifts of lefs than one hundred, or of 
more than three hundred Travellers, affembles at Mourzouk, and 
begins its journey in the laif week of Odober, or in the firft of 
the fucceeding month. 
TemifTa, 
