52 
Accoimt of Alexander Scott's CaptlvUif 
Mahommed the prophet. The personage here buried was laid 
(as he was told) on his side with his head to the north, his 
feet to the south, and his face to the east * *, the usual mode of 
interment in that country. In the ground adjoining the build- 
ing, were the graves of many pilgrims who had died in El 
Hezsh. These were marked by small hollows, with a stone 
upon each, with other stones placed on edge along the sides, and 
one at each end. 
The party was accompanied by five pilgrims, who were dres- 
sed in a kind of white cotton shirt, with a red belt round the 
waist, and each carried a brass box containing books and papers. 
When they had arrived on the ground, all, in a standing posi- 
tion, cried aloud : “ Allah ackihar sliedou il lahi el allali. — She- 
downa Mahommed de rassoid allah *|*.^ They bowed their heads 
thrice to the ground, then got up, and walked to the front of 
the building, to the door of which, the pilgrims first approach- 
ed. On one side of the door was a brownish stone, set in the 
ground two feet high, which the pilgrims kissed, and their ex- 
ample was followed by all the party, Scott excepted. The stone 
was quite smooth and rounded at the top, seemingly hard and 
clean, but the sides were rather mossy. 
The people here threatened to kill Scott, if he did not turn 
Mahommedan, shewing him a knife with which they said they 
would destroy him. He told them ‘‘ they might kill him, for 
‘‘ he would not turn and they gave him until next morning 
to think of it ; but after this time they did not trouble him any 
more about changing his religion. 
ing above described ; that this person was born where the Prophet was, and mar- 
ried his daughter Fatma-Min t’^ Uhnsoel, who is also interred there. Scott’s mas- 
ter likewise read to him from a book, the names of many who were buried in the 
above described building, some of which he recollects, as Sidna Braheim, Sidna 
Mouss, Sidna Bak-har, Sidna Hammed, Sidna Bo-heida, Sidna Solleh. 
The errors in Scott’s description of the tomb of Mahommed, and of the place of 
his burial, are not uncommon in such popular works as he probably consulted. 
* That is towards Mecca. 
These words are put down as nearly as possible, according to his manner of 
pronouncing them, as are the proper names which occur in the narrative. Compare 
this sentence with Ali Bey’s Account of the Religion of the Western Arabs, vol. I. 
Pf S9. and 90,^ and the ceremony of kissing the stone of the Kaba, vol. II. p. 5?. 
