104 
by a high wall on three sides, where the pilgrim says 
his prayer: it is ascended by some steps. 
It is in this street that the barbers live who shave 
the pilgrims' heads. Whilst performing this operation, 
the former recite a prayer, which the latter repeat word 
for word. 
The houses are built upon the mountain, in the 
form of an amphitheatre to the top. 
The principal street of Mecca is that which leads 
from Saffa to Meroua, and serves for a public market; 
so that, in consequence of the crowd which assembles 
in it, it is very inconvenient for the journey between 
the two sacred mountains. 
The following are the persons attached to the 
temple: 
The principal chief, called Scheik el Haram. The 
chief of the well of Zemzem, named Scheik Zemzem. 
Forty eunuchs, who are negroes, and are the guardians 
and servants of the house of God: they wear, as a sign 
of distinction, a large caftan or shirt of white cloth, 
bound with a belt above their ordinary clothes, and a 
large white turban upon their heads: they also general- 
ly carry a reed or wand in their hand. A great number 
of attendants and water carriers, whose business it also 
is to take care of the mats that are spread in the even- 
ing upon the ground in the court and galleries of the 
temple. There are also an infinite number of other 
persons employed; such as lamplighters, lamptrim- 
mers, the servants of the Makam Ibrahim, of the little 
ditch of the Kaaba, of the several places of prayer of 
the four rites, of the minarets, of Saffa, and of Meroua; 
as also a number of porters, who take care of the san- 
dals at the different doors. All these are charged to 
take care of the places to which they are attached, and 
