The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-30

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notice, the pilgrims, Oh their part, appeared
no less surprised at the apparition Of a sol.
tary traveller in a Frank dress, coming
across the Desert in the opposite direction.
Many were The questions put TO Komeh,
who, to my renewed surprise, seemed here
as well as everywhere else, to know almost
and many were the salutations
to myself, though all, it was evil
dent, did not regard Inc with quite so favor
able an eye, their welcome varying proba.
bly,, according to the laxity or ardor OF
their Mussulman (anaticism. In this mix |
ed host, as in The crusades OF old, many and
various were The shades Of character and
motive impelling to the performance of pill |
grirnage; and there would have been little
difficulty in grouping the host according to
the indications afforded by their respective
appearance. The comfortable, nay, luxu-
rious style OF many showed forth rather the |
man Of rank or wealthy merchant, with |
whom the formal sense Of the fulflment Of
a pous duty, which adds further eonsldera-
ton to that Of wealth, or the dissipation OF
ennui, or an eye to profitable traffic, were
motives largely qualifying the religious IA
naticism which was strongly stamped on
the scowIing visaees Of many OF the more
poorly provided. Some Of these, from their
green turbans, had evidently gone On the
pilgrimage before, and their general mien
bore out the well-known Eastern saying.
which proportions to the number Of these
pious journeys he has performed the min
gled amount Of rsscslity and lana.icism
acquired by the pilgrim. SallOwIaced der
wishes abounded; these, says Burckhsrdt,
"of every sect and order in the Turkish
empire, are found among the pilgrims,
many of them mGdme1l, or at least assum-
ing the appearance of insanity, which eau
ses Them 10 be much respected By the
hadjys, and fills their pockets with money.
The behavior of some Of them is so violent,
and at the same time SO cunning, that even
the least charitably disposed hsdjys gave
willingly something to escape from them. ,
The Mammal, borne on the back of
fine camel, selected for the purpose, and
Exempted for the rest of its life froal ordi-
nary labor; consists of square wooden
frame, terminating in pyramidsl form,
covered with dark brocade, and highly -orna-
mented with gilt fringes and tassels. Mr..
Lane states that in every cover he has seen
was worked view of the Temple Of Mecca,
and over it the Sultan's CIPHER but these
particulars escaped my notice. According
to the same excellent authority, from whom
/ borrow some further details relating 10
the pilgrimage, il contains nothing, besides
two mus-hafs, or copies Of the Koran, one
on a scroll, and the other in the usual
form of little book, and each enclosed in
a case of gilt silver, attached externally at
the top. Ii was related that the iSulttn En-
Zahir Beybars, King of Egypt, was the first
who sent MAMMAL with the caravan OF
pilgrims 10 Mecca, in the year Of the
Flight, GO, (A.D. 1879 or 675; bat this
custom, it is generally SAID, has its origin
few years before his accession TO the
throne. Sheger Dur, (commonly call
ed Shegeret- ed Durr,) a beautiful Turkish
slave, who became the favorite wife Of the
Sultan Es-Saleh Negen-ed Deem, and on
the death of his son, with whom termina-
ted the dynasty Of the house Of Eiyoob)
caused herself 10 be acknowledged as
Queen of Egypt performed the pilgrimage
in a magnificent "hodsg," or covered litter,
BONE by camel; and for several success.
sive years her empty hodag was sent with
the caravan, merely for the sake Of state
Hence succeeding princes of Egypt sent
with each years caravan OF pilgrims 8
kind OF hodag, (Which received the name
Of "Mahamal," or "Mahamil, y as en- EN-.
blem of royalty; and the kings OF other
countries followed their example. The
Wahhabees prohibited the Mammal, as an
object Of vain pomp: it afforded them one
reason for interceptng the caravan.
Immediately behind the Mammal follow.
ed another camel, bearing square wooden
seat, fenced with boards, in which was seat.
ed an old hairy Santon, his head uncovered
and perfectly naked 10 the waist, swaying
to and fro, .broiling and blackening in the
fierce sunbeams. This singular being is
called the "Sheik Of the Camel. and re
ceives from Government two camels and
his provisions: he is probably the same in.
dividual described by Mr.. Lane, as having
for several years accompanied the caravan
to and from Mecca. This old man, in
whom | supposed the whole animus oil
Mussulman intolerance to be concentrated,
saluted US very oourteously. In addition
to this original, the Mammal was, few
years ago, followed by another, and still
more singular one: an old woman, with head
uncovered, and only wearing a shirt. She
was called "Umrl-el- Kutat, or the mother
Of the cats, having always five OF six cats
sitting about her on her camel.
The journey from Cairo 70 Mecca Is long
and arduous, and occupies thirty days,
(Lane) and the route is, fer the most part,
desert. "The route of the Egyptian cara
van is far more dangerous and fatiguing than
that of the Syrian; the road along the shore
Of the Red Sea leading through the terrific
ries Of wild and warlike tribes of Bedouins
who frequently endeavor 70 cut of parl
Of the caravan by open force" The car
avan travels slowly but steadily; the time
for hating and departing being marked by
the sound of the cannon. komeh, who
was himself Hadji. had contrived, in a
rough way, to furnish me with an account
Of the details and privation, Of his pilgrim.
sge, some OF which were painful enough;
they agreed exactly with Mr.. Lanes &C
count. at is not merely by the viat to
Mecca, and the performance Of the cere.
monies Of comprising the kaabeh seven