260 
After having traversed the court, he enters El Aksa 
by the lateral gate, and says a prayer by the side of the 
principal niche; another in the wing of the edifice, called 
Sidi Omar; and a third opposite the frontispiece called, 
like the preceding one, Beb Arrahma, or The Gate of 
Mercy. 
The pilgrim then proceeds by the causeway towards 
El Sahhara, ascends the staircase, and being arrived at 
the arches, where is El Mizan, or the uni versal balance, 
which is invisible as v\ dl a* the bridge Sirat, he repeats 
a short prayer. After having observed tlxse first duties, 
he enters the Sahhara, repeats a prayer near the rock, 
makes an invocation to the Prophet, and sanctifies him- 
self by touching lie print of his sacred foot; he then 
descends into the cave of the rock, where he offers up a 
prayer at the places which bear the , names Solomon, 
David, Abraham, Gabriel, and Elias. Having quitted 
the Sahhara, he goes to say a prayer at each of the 
oratories, called the tribunal of David, the cobbas of 
the Prophet, of Behhinnbchinn, of the Spirit, and of 
Elias; thus terminates the visit to the temple. It is 
necessary to present alms at the greatest part of these 
places in particular. 
Nothing can be more inconvenient than to traverse 
this court in different directions, when going to the 
several stations of the throne of Solomon, of Sirat, and 
of Aksa. There is no traced path, and on this side the 
court is entirely covered with thistles and thorny plants, 
growing close together, on which account this act of 
devotion becomes an actual punishment, the pilgrims 
being obiiged to walk barefooted. 
After having completed all these ceremonies, and dis- 
charged all the alms due to the Temple, on the very day 
