Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-04-07
LITERARY.

Inc loloWlng Sfaphlc and interesting
view of the interior of Mecca is from an
able summary of ofBURcKHARDT's Travels,
recently published in the Edinburgh
Review. BURcKHARDT has been cele-
brated for the extent ef his researches,
and the great accession he has brought
to our acquaintance with the regions of
Syria and Palestine. From Syria he
passed into Arabia-and the volumes
reviewed are principally occupied with
his curious and highly authentic accounts
ofthe sacred Territories hitherto inacces-
sible to the foot of European. Since
completing these Travels, this respect
ed and valuable author has added another
name to the many illustrious victims in
the cause of Discovery on the African
Continent.
From the Edinburgh Repiep.
MECCA. {.
In this holy city, the holiest object,
and which rivets the eyes and hearts of
all believers, is the great mosque, called
the Bcitullah, or house of God. 1t seems
to be, not the most elegant, or even very
elegant, but one of the largest structures
within the precincts of the Mahommedan
world. 1t is about quarter of mile
in length, and nearly as much in breadth
and forms, indeed, not so much an edi-
flee, as a large covered square, surround
ed on all sides with a triple or quadruple
row of columns. Mr. Burckhardt quotes
various Arabic authorities as to the num-
Der of these columns. We know not
why, amid these deep researches, he
never thought of counting them himself
they appear to exceed five hundred
They are composed only partially of mar
BILE, chiefly of common stone from the
neighboring hills and there is as little
of uniformity in the shape as in the ma
terials. They are united by pointed
arches supporting small domes, which
our author, still using the testimony of
Kotobcdin rather than his own eyes, re-
ports to be l52 in number. 1t is believ-
ed in Mecca, that this mosque, when
ever it becomes too small for the crowd
IF worshippers, has its dimensions invis-
bly, expanded by an angel, till it receives
Ill who seek admittance and that if the
whole Mahommedan world could be
nere assembled, they would all find space.
The truth appears to be, that it can con-
ain 80, 900 persons, which is more than
Il - of thn apt
The area is pervaded by cool and fra
grant breezes, produced by the many
openings on every side but which the
faithful ascribe to the waving of the
wings of the numerous angels by whom
is gates are guarded. Except during
he hour of prayer, the citizens treat this
loly enclosure with very little ceremony.
Porters and wa, ,goners pass and repass
,n their way to different parts of the city ;;
poor pilgrims establish their lodgment
inder the columns, having no other
mansion ; the empty spaces become Of
en-, without much animadversion, the
heatre of frivolous and even indecent
This edifice was constructed almost
'olcly for the purpose of containing a
,othcr holier still-the Kaaba. This is
. large, oblong, massive structure, built
If gray Mecca stone, in large ill-cement-
ID blocks. To perform the Towaf, or
tightly walk around the Kaaba by the
ight of the sacred lamps, is one of the
most meritorious of Mussulman actions,
md which contributes most to establish
he character of Hadj, or pilgrim
The Kaaba, according to the most learn
d comments, was framed in heaven,
wo thousand years before the creation
nd the angels were then commanded to
crfom the Towaf round IT, Adam
made it his first concern to erect it on
arth, Immediately below its celestial