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cardinal points. However, it is generally believed that 
the angle of the black stone is placed exactly to the 
east. 
The following are the proportions of the Kaaba: It 
is a species of cube, of the form of a trapezium, built 
with square hewn, but unpolished stones of quartz, 
schorl, and mica, brought from the neighbouring 
mountains. The front, in which is the door, forms the 
side, in an angle of which stands the black stone, and 
faces the N. E. 10|° E. It is thirty- seven feet two 
inches six lines (French measure) long. 
The front, which forms the other side of the angle, 
in which is the black stone, faces the S. E. 15° S., and 
is thirty-one feet seven inches long. 
The side opposite the door is to the S.W. W., 
and is thirty. eight feet four inches six lines in length. 
The fourth side, or that of the Stones of Ismail, 
fronts the N. W. 17§° N., and is twenty-nine feet 
long. 
The height is thirty-four feet four inches. 
The door has an elevation of six feet upon the out- 
side plane. It is eight feet high, four feet ten inches 
broad, six feet distant from the angle of the black 
stone, and is composed of two folding doors, of bronze 
gilt, and silvered, which are fastened with an enor- 
mous padlock of silver. 
The basement, which surrounds the building, is of 
marble, twenty inches high, projecting ten inches. 
There are large bronze rings fixed in it, <*t distances all 
round, to which is fastened the lower border of the 
black cloth that covers the walls. 
The black stone, Hhajera el Assouad, or Heavenly 
Stone, is raised forty- two inches above the surface, 
and is bordered all round with a large plate of silver, 
