Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-28


exception Of the Saracene Princess, pearl
Tree" who forced her way into Mecca sup
ported by thirty thousand Tances. no woman has
ever been known to enter the city, Many at
tempts have, however, been made by over
Jealous Turkish women who under various
DISCUSSES. have effected an entrance. but none
ever returned to give an account of their pill
grimage. as they were put to death Immediately
upon being discovered. At the present time no
woman could ever pass the gates. as steps are
taken which render such q PROCLAMATION quite
Impossible. Whenever Christians or Jews have
been caught inside the wall they have invariably
paid for their curiosity with their lives the most
noted cases being those of Mr.. Herbert GIenny
an English Oriental scholar. who was stoned to
death, and Abram Arensen a jew who was
crucitled- Within the last few years. however
three Christians have cOntrived successfully to
visit the Holy City, and TO note the proceedings
OF the COurban Baisanc. festivity of sacrifices
1T which time hundreds of thousands of Mosem
pilgrims flock there from every Mahommedan
country under the sun. The first of these was
the famous Hungarian. Professor Vambery who
was followed BY the well known traveller Capt
Burton. the latest visitor being Lieut. Ivan Milu-
tine. u young Russian officer of great promise
and the following account is compiled from a
most Interesting letter, sent 10y the latter to a
friend in this country:
Lieut. Mutine having beardt that no Christian
had ever succeeded in entering and leaving
Mecca, determined to go there, and for this rea-
son commenced studying Turkish several years
ago When he had learned to read and write
be went to COnStaDtnOple. where through as
socatng with the Turks. he became master of
the language. and in order to test his strength
obtained apartments in Turkish house. telling
the inmates he was Turk named HaSSan-Ali:
and nHding that during the three months he
lived there lie was never suspected of not being
what he had represented himself to be. he COM
menced visiting the various mosques. and mix
Ing with the imamS or priests thus learning
the form of prayer and many other religious
things, which 10 Turkish professor would care
to iiupart to an iniiiel pUpil
Having made all the necessary preparations,
he started from ScutaIi. opposite ConstaBti-
nopie. with the grand caravan composed of if-
teen thousand camels and between nine thou
sand and ten Thousand pilgrims He was ac-
conpanicd by an old Turk. who wished to visit
the Shrine of the Prophet, but who could not
afford the expense. and i'll consideration of the
fictitious Hassan Ali paying his share. he agreed
to attend to the canels look after the tent cook
and DO all other work for his master. They had
provided themselves with four canels, two of
which carried the water-skiGs. one the tent and
equipment. while the remaining one carried
the food. The pilgrims i'm orthodox Koran
style. voyaGed all the way on foot. The Jour
ney lasted siyty-three days. during which
time the number. both of men and beasts
was reduced by at least one-third. ae-
count of fatigue. prvatOns and other hard
ships TO which tue caravan was subjected.
The heat, while going through the Syrian and
Arabian deserts. was so severe that the travel
ers body became dangerously bstered. while
the water in the skins was hot that it was i'm
possible to drink 1t until far in the night.
when it had cooled little. Fever and dysen-
terry decimated the travellers and hundreds of
caIneis and men were left to die in the desert on
account OF the insufliciency of water and food
This. however was not the worst, as during the
Journey the caravan was attacked by marau(ling
Bedouns, no less than twenty-five times who
used 10 sweep down on detached bodies of pill
grims. killing them and dccampng with their
property. Many of the pilgrims are worth pill
aging. as they carry large sums of money with
them 10 deiray the expenses Of going and re-
turning. besides which they generally carry
abundant offerings for the shrine on their own
account. as well as being intrusted with money
ami jewels 10y their friends. who. not being able
to undertake the Journey themselves send
presents TO the Holy City by deputies. Seven
times during each twenty-four hours general
nat was made for prayers, this being Koran
regulation not to be overlooked on any ac-
count.
Lieut.. Mlutine discovered that there were
many systematic pilgrims, who went and re-
surned with the Great Caravan every year, not
Tor the sake of devotion. but for robbery the
amount OF property which was reported to the
Sheik. or chief OF the expedition. as missing at
each hait, beIng OF enormous value; and sell
dom, II ever. were the perpetrators discovered
Inc lieutenant lost nearly every small portable
article of which he was possessed and when
once he found caInp-stOOi. which had been
stolen from him. in another pilgrims posses
sion. he could not recover it, as the holder de-
ciared having bought il from man whom the
BedOuins mad sent to E-Wady." or Paradise.
on the previous day. The most coveted article
however, was wafer: no amount of money could
Ouy 1t In the desert. and should the water of the
Richest man in the caravan give out he would
nave 10 lay down in the sand and die as nobody
would give him one drop. the idea OF self-pre-
sefvation being uppermost. The pilgrims re-
sorted to all kinds of subterfu"e yillainy and
even crime to possess themselves of their fellow
travellers beverage. and Lieut.. Mlutine and his
assistant kept guard over their stock in turns.
ready to Kill the first man that attempted to
triile with their liquid property.
when The Journey was half completed halt
OF one day was made for special devotion
during which the travellers changed their clothes
Ter the 'lhram. or pilgrim costume of two
large towels. and sWOre not to tie knots in their
dress, nor TO oil their Bodies nor to cut their
Mans mar or beard. nor TO color the latter with
henna which Is a favOrte Arabian and Persian
habit During the whole Of this day the voices
OF the pilgrims could be heard for miles i'm the
desert shouting, Here am, o God here am
Here am, tnassociated One. here am, tor
unto Thee belong praise, grace and empire O
UnaSSOciateCi One
This verse is one of the most beautiful in the
Moran, the language being exceedingly rich
commencing l-abbaik Allah, humma labbaik''
This prayer was repeated SO often people not
unfrequently rushing up to their friends and
sirlekln@ the sacred sentence In their ears that
II at last became signal for mcrrlment
Long before they were even near the HOLY
City they were met by ''Muttavaffs'' or guides
who carried their living by showing the pilgrims
over the town. each "Muttavafr' taking some
hundred pilgrims under his charge Having
passed the barriers which marked the outer
most limits OF the city, where each pilgrim I'M
dergOes minute examination. for reasons ex-
planned at the commencement Of this article.
they assembled some giant steps leading to
plateau. surrounded by rocks some of which
mask the view of the birthplace of tine Prophet.
Ihis was at midnight; it was raining, and light
ming played around the wearied visitors. Day
after day they had watched its brightness from
the dreary desert, and many faithful HadU
had pointed out to his companions these
nres, which were Heavens witness to the sane
Gfy OF the spot. .'Ai Hamdu Lilah." Thanks
TO God. they had arrived at the "Kaaba," to
which every Moslem turns his face while in
prayer since the days of Mahommed The cara
van camped on the plateau. and soon after dawn
arose the shout OF .Labbaik. Labbaik!' upon
winch the disguised pilgrim, passing between
.he rocks, found himself In the chief street of