THE CARAVAN. 
77 
A Defcription of the Mecca Caravan 
from Cairo. 
T HE Caravan goes every year from Cairo to 
Mecca, about this time. The Bey’s march 
r °m the city, is one of the molt remarkable cere- 
monies of any to be feen in the Eaft, I had an op- 
portunity of beholding it on the ioth of February, 
t began at eight o’clock in the morning, and went 
rom a place below the palace, where all thofe affem- 
Y e who are to go to a place without the city, where 
, e Caravan hath its encampment. They obferved 
l m following order on this occafion : i. A number 
0 fpare camels faddled. 2. Six field pieces on their 
Car riages, drawn by fix horfes. 3. Six Palanguins 
^oflructed of grand filk hangings, which covered a 
? * *a, each carried by two camels, the one behind 
, e other. They are for the ufe of the Bey, and 
le principal officers on the journey. All the 
*ers mull ride on camels. 4. About forty camels 
lc h provifions, and as many with ammunition. 5. A 
^ u mber of camels carrying water in leather bags, 
^ 0r whofe fupport handfome legacies have been left 
y the former Sarracenian Sultans of Egypt, which 
^.'1 continue to be paid. 6. Beds for the lick, car- 
of4 ^ can tels, one on each fide. 7. Field mufic 
drums, kettle-drums and hautboys. 8. A num- 
ber 
