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an under one, bound with a cashmire shawl: of another 
his turban is composed. He had a. large cushion placed 
behind him, a second at his side, and a third at his 
feet, upon which he leaned frequently. There was no 
other furniture besides these in the saloon, except a 
large carpet that covered the floor. He smoked his 
Persian pipe, or nerguile, during my visit; but the 
pipe itself was in another room, from which a tube of 
leather passed to his mouth, through a hole in the wall. 
The reformer Abdoulwehhab having proclaimed the 
use of tobacco to be a sin, and his sectaries who 
govern Arabia being generally formidable, they smoke 
with great circumspection, and mostly out of sight. 
The next day, Sunday the 25th of January, I paid 
a visit to the Nekib el Ascharaf, or chief of the 
Scherifs, and made him a little present. He received 
me with much friendship, and showed me as much 
attention as I could desire. This was the second day 
of the opening of the Kaaba, which was, as I have 
already remarked, set apart for the women. They en- 
tered it in crowds to say their prayers, and went seven 
times round it, the same as the men. 
On Thursday the 29th of January, and the 20th of 
the month Doulkaada, the Kaaba was washed and pu- 
rified, with the following ceremonies: 
Two hours after sun-rise, the Sultan Scherif went 
to the temple, accompanied by about thirty persons, 
and twelve Negro and Arabian guards. The door of 
the Kaaba was already open, and surrounded with an 
immense number of people. The staircase was not 
placed. The Sultan Scherif got upon the shoulders 
and heads of the multitude, and entered with the prin- 
cipal Scheiks of the tribes. Those below wished to do 
the same, but the guards prevented them, by beating 
