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veral gates were walled up; all was ready, in short, in 
case of aggression; but the moderation of the Weh- 
habites, and the negociations of the Scherif, rendered 
these precautions useless. 
CHAPTER V. 
Pilgrimage to Arafat. — Great Meeting of the Pilgrims. — Description of Arafat. — 
Sultan and Army of the Wehhabis. — Ceremonies at Arafat. — Return to 
Mosdelifa. — Return to and Ceremonies at Mina. — Return to Mecca, and end 
of the Pilgrimage. — Appendix to the Pilgrimage. 
The grand day of the pilgrimage to Mount Arafat 
being fixed for Tuesday the 17th February, I left the 
city the preceding afternoon, in a schevria, placed 
upon a camel. 
At two o'clock I passed the barracks of the Negro and 
Mogrebin guards, which are situated at the northern 
extremity of the town. Afterwards, turning to the east, 
I saw a large country house belonging to the Scherif, 
and soon obtained a view of the celebrated Djebel 
Nor, or Mountain of Light. It was upon this spot that 
the angel Gabriel brought the first chapter of the 
Kour-ann to the greatest of Prophets. This mountain, 
which presents the appearance of a sugar loaf, rises 
alone above the others that surround it. There was a 
chapel formerly upon its summit, which was an object 
that the pilgrims visited; but the Wehhabites, having 
destroyed it, have placed a guard at the foot of the 
mountain, to prevent them from ascending and saying 
their prayers, which Abdoulwehhabb has declared to 
be superstitious. It is said there is a staircase cut in 
the rock to facilitate the ascent. As it was situated a 
Vol. II. K 
