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roof is supported by six pilasters, a little higher than 
a man. 
The half of the parallelogram nearest to the house 
of God is surrounded by a fine railing of bronze, which 
embraces four pilasters, the door of which is always 
shut, and locked with a large silver padlock. 
This railing incloses a sort of covered sarcophagus, 
hung with a black cloth, magnificently embroidered 
with gold and silver, having large golden acorns at- 
tached to it. The sarcophagus is nothing else than a 
large stone, that served Abraham for a footstool to con- 
struct the Kaaba, and increased in height as the build- 
ing advanced, to facilitate his labours, at the same time 
that the stones came out miraculously already squared, 
from the spot where the footstool now stands, and 
passed into Ismael's hands, and from thence into his 
father's. Hence the rite commands, that a prayer 
should be said there after having perambulated the 
house of God. The space surrounded by the railing 
is surmounted by a pretty little cupola. 
El Bir Zemzem, or the Well of Zemzem, is situ- 
ated fifty- one feet distant to the E. 10° N. of the black 
stone. 
It is about seven feet eight inches in diameter, and 
fifty-six feet deep to the surface of the water. The brim 
is of fine white marble, five feet high. 
It is requisite to ascend to the brim to draw the 
water; at the inside of which there is a railing of iron, 
with a plate of brass at the foot, to prevent persons 
falling in. As there are no steps by which to ascend, 
they are obliged to climb upon the stone of an ad- 
joining window, and afterwards leap upon the top. 
These difficulties exist only to prevent the pilgrims 
from getting the water themselves, and that they may 
