70 
and I mounted upon a heap of rubbish to observe 
them better. 
I saw a column of them defile, which appeared com- 
posed of five or six thousand men, so pressed together 
in the whole width of the street, that it would not 
have been possible to have moved a hand. The column 
was preceded by three or four horsemen, armed with 
a lance twelve feet long, and followed by fifteen or 
twenty men mounted upon horses, camels, and dome- 
daries, with lances like the others; but they had neither 
flags, drums, nor any other instrument or military 
trophy during their march. Some uttered cries of 
holy joy, others recited prayers in a confused and loud 
voice. 
They marched in this manner to the upper part of 
the town, where they began to file off in parties, to 
enter the temple by the gate Beb-es-selem. 
A great number of children belonging to the city, 
who generally serve as guides to strangers, came to 
meet them, and presented themselves successively to 
the different parties, to assist them as guides in the 
sacred ceremonies. I remarked, that among these be- 
nevolent guides there was not one man. Already had 
the first party began their turns round the Kaaba, and 
were pressing towards the black stone to kiss it, when 
the others, impatient no doubt at being kept waiting, 
advanced in a tumult, mixed among the first; and con- 
fusion being soon at its height, prevented them from 
hearing the voices of their young guides. Tumult 
succeeded to confusion. All wishing to kiss the stone, 
precipitated themselves upon the spot; and many of 
them made their way with their sticks in their hands. 
In vain did their chiefs mount the base near the stone, 
with a view to enforce order: their cries and signs 
