Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-14
PILGRIMS TO MECCA.
Gifts for the Sacred shrine A Scene
Rich in Color and Of Oriental signif-

Gifts for the Sacred shrine scene
Rich in Color and Of Oriental signifi-
canee.
The sacred caravan, the Mahmel Of the
Turks, says a Constantinople letter to the
Chicago Herald, is now encamped at Scu-
tart, on the Asiatic shores Of the Bospho-
rus. ready TO start In a few days to Da-
mascus, the rallying point for all the pill
grims Of Asia Minor. Time was when the
journey to Mecca from Turkey was en-
tirely performed overland, but the extern
sion Of steam traffic has so greatly facili-
tated intercourse with the Hedjaz that the
Turkish pilgrim is now able to accom-
plish the greater portion Of the journey
by water. Although the hardships Of the
HAP have thus been greatly reduced,
appearances are nevertheless preserved,
and the character of the journey, as being
an undertaking quite distinct from that
OF mere voyage OF business or pleasure,
is brought prominently into view for the
edificafiOn of the "faithfulv who remain
behind By the fictitious start from Con-
stantinople, which gives rise to the great
State function known as the "Surre..
This ceremony took place last week with
usual p0mp, and for the Turks the cara
van is already on its journey to the land
of the Prophet, although it will be some
time yet ere it proceeds on board of
the steamer which is to convey it to Bey-
rout. Dating from the early part of the
sixteenth century, when the Caliphate
was assumed by Selim the Fierce. the
cOnqueror of Egypt and Syria. the Nah
mel is the most important of all the reli-
giOus caravans that set out for the Holy
Land of Islam, conveying as it does the an
nual gifts of the Turkish Monarch to the
sacred shrines.
The caravan starts from the palace it.
self in a grand procession, in which all
the high dignitaries of the Empire take
part. 1t commences with prayers and
chanting in the presence Of the Sultan,
who then solemnly cOntides the sacred
camel that bears the precious gifts under
a silken canopy to the ''Surre-Emineh,"
the officer charged with their preSenta-
ton at Mecca and Medina.
The march from Yidiz to Beshiktash
afforded a striking spectacle, more eSpe-
cially 10 the stranger. Emerging from
the imperial gates the procession passed
down between the double line of soldiers
placed to preserve way for it through
the immense crowd of Mussulmans of all
ages, size, sex and description, assembled
for the purpose Of Witnessing it's de-
parture. Next to taking part in the
"Haj" itself, this is considered to be one of
the meritOrious acts that a 'strue believer''
can perform, especially if it be accom-
panied with any pecuniary assistance
rendered TO any of the poorer pilgrims,
and the reader can well understand the
excitement that arose upon the appear
ance of the stately '1ship Of the DESERT"
The noble animal, almost pure white in
color, marched past with measured tread,
lifting its head proudly, as if conscious of
the YeneratiOn with which it was regarded
but disdained to make an acknowledge
ment of the same. The scene was rich in
coloring and eminently Oriental, bringing
the desert life of Arabia into the Euro
pean existence at COnstantinople. The
flowing robes of the priests, the richly
embroidered uniforms of the officials, the
bright dresses Of the Turkish women and
the wild light of fanaticism in the eyes of
the lightly-clad pilgrims made up pic
ture that will long dwell in the mind of
the foreign visitor fortunate enough to
obtain peep at the procession, as l did,
from the secure position of the window of
a house on the line of march, heightened
as the effect was by the recitations from
the Koran and the loud cries that every
now and then issued from the mouths of
those upon whom the spirit Of the scene
was working.
The first act of the pilgrim is to assume
the religious garb appointed by those who
instituted the ''Haj.' 1t is called the
"Thram," and consists Of two pieces of
white cotton stuff, with one of which the
loins are enveloped, while the other is
thrown over the shoulders. A pair of SAN
dals is worn, but the head remains uncOv-
cred. The pilgrims must reach ''Bairam,"
otherwise the act of devotion would not
be complete, and they would have no style
to call themselves ''Hadjis." Early in.the
morning on the day in question, forming
in a long procession outside the gates,
they march to Mount Ararat, a distance
of some Is miles. 1t was here that, ac-
cording to Mohammedan tradition, Eve
and Adam were reunited after a long alb
sence; but the spot has much higher
title to reverence as being the place where,
seated upon a camel, Mohammed preached
his last sermon to the "faithfur' not two
months before his death. In commence
ration of this event the Caadi of Mecca
breaches long sermon that commencing
at noon continues until sunset, to hear
which is the object of the march just
mentioned. The moment the sun disap-
pears the pilgrims, lighting their torches,
set out amid the loud salvos of artillery
and the firing of guns and pistols for
place called ''Muzdelify," where they
spend the night and the following day in
prayer. On the morning of the third day
of ''Bayiam'; they set out again for the
Valley of Nina, to throw stones at the
devil, in imitation of Adam, who is sup
posed to have met the arch tempter at this
spot and driven him away in that man.
ner. Sixty-three is the regulation num-
Der of stones that have to be launched
against the imaginary foe Of each pilgrim,
and the fusilade, as might be supposed, is
pretty lively.
Then follows the sacrifice of animals
sheep, oxen and camels-accOrding to the
extent of the wealth and religious devo-
tiOn of the pilgrims. This is in cOmmem-
Grafton of the sacrifice on Mount Moriah,
where Abraham, as the Mohammedans
say, was about to offer up his son Ishmael
in obedience to the Divine command,
when his hand was stayed by the angel
of God. Remaining two days in this val
ley. the pilgrims then return to Mecca to
perform the ceremony of the ''Touaf"
and drink of the well of Zem-Zem. The
'"TOuaf" consists in passing round the
''kaabe'' seven times, generating the pre-
cious relic by touching it with the lips or
hand, imploring at the same time the par
don OF God for all sins committed. At
Zem-Zem as much water is drank as pos
sible, the contents of the sacred well being
supposed to wash away from the mouth of
the ''true believer all faculty for lying.
Strange to say, there is no proverb so well
known among Orientals as ''to lie like
hadji." The we'll Of Zem-Zem, in the be-
lief of the Mohammedau, is of Divine
origin. When Hagar, wandering in the
desert with her child, sorely tried by
thirst. was about to put an end to both of
their lives, the angel Of Gabriel appeared
and directed the little Ishmael to stand
upon the ground with his feet. He did
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