154 
Travels into the 
E V A N T. 
It 
Journey to 
Medina. 
M^hnmet's 
Tomb. 
the other, and that at the end of two hundred and twenty years they met on 
the top of this Mountain. When all thefe Ceremonies are over, the Sultan 
Schenf (who comes with them to the Mount) fays fome Prayers,then gives them 
the Benedidion, to which all anfwer Jmen^ and fo the work is concluded. 
From thence they go to Mdim, where Mahomth Tomb is ; but the greatell 
Devotion is at the Kiaabe. In the mean time, there are many in Chriftendom'e 
who believe, that they only undertake this Pilgrimage to vifite the Tomb of 
Mahomet^ but they are raiftaken ; for a great many do not go thither at all. 
Nor can I tell neither whence the Fable may have arifen, which is believed by 
many, that Mahomet's Tomb is in a Room, the Walls whereof are all faced 
with Loadftone j and that his Shrine, which is of iron, hangs in the Air by the 
vertue of the Loadftone that equally attrads it on all hands : For not only it is 
Bot fo, but indeed, never was ; and when I made mention of it to Turks, I fet 
them a laughing, and they jeered me forait -, the Shrine is only encompaifed 
with great Grates of Iron, and upon occafion of thêit, they relate another 
foppery. They fay, that one time two Chrillians being refolved to carry 
away that Body, put themfelves into the habit of Vervijhes^ and were fo con- 
ftant and diligent at their Devotion, that all took them for great Saints : But 
upon a time a report being raifed and fpread over the City, that there was a 
defign to carry away the Body of Mahomet^ though no body could tell who was 
Authour of the Intelligence : The Governour invited all the Dervijhes to dine 
at his houfe, that he might advife with them about that bufinefs ; When they 
were met, the two Chriftians were miJTing, who were fought after, and being 
found, brought before the Governour ; but that fofoon as they appeared, they 
■were ftruck with fuch a confufion, that they confefled their crime, faying, that 
they had dugg a hole under the Mofque oppofite to the Body, and that their 
defign was to break through the floor at that place, and make the Body fall 
down, that fo they might carry it away. Wherefore to prevent the like danger 
for the time to come, they have encompafled it with a great Iron-grate, above, 
below, and on all fides. . 
CHAP. XX. 
Of the Aga fent to meet the Caravan upon their return^ 
and of the G aim of the Emir-Adge. 
The return A Bout fix weeks after the fetting out of the Caravan of Caire, when 
of the Cara- they know that it is ready to return from Mecl^a, an Aaa goes from 
l^Mthat goes ^'^^'''^ S"^^^ ^^^^ Provifions that the People of the Countrey fend to 
to meet ir. their Friends and Relations in the Caravan, every one fending according to 
FrefhProvi- their abilities and friendfliip ; all which are well fealed up, and delivered to 
fions for the thofe they belong unto. For this effeét, the Ago, has many Camels with hira. 
Caravan. g^j.^ confiderably by the Caravan, which he meets half way. This year it 
returned on the Thirteenth of November^ and encamped at the ^?V^«f, 
where the Caravan of the Magrehins arrived the day before. Several come to 
Caire the fame day, and their Friends go as far as the Btrque to welcome them ;» 
whereupon meeting, they kifs again and again five or fix times, and all who 
know them, falute and kifs them in the fame manner ; and indeed, for fome 
days after, there is nothing to be feen in the City, but people kiffing one ano- 
ther, or lamenting their Relations who died in the Journey, Men, Women and 
The time the Children, who howl and make fearful geftures, when they hear the news from 
Caravan tzkes ^^q. j-j^g Caravan, whom they meet. Thefe Pilgrims are forty five days 
comiri's^om g^^^S' 2"*^ much in coming back to Caire, befides fome days they ftay 
Mecha. there ; but they make but eafie Journeys , it being impofïïble that fo great a 
\ Body 
