The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-02-05
TEE HOLY CITY OF MECCA.

THE HOLY CITY OF MECCA.
Curious Features of the Yearly PHI.
grinage.
New Orleans Times
In view of the fact that the French
Government is actually considering the
expediency of jointly occupying the
Holy City of Mecca with other civilized
powers, in the hope of controlling the
yearly pilgrimages thither, SO as to prevent
the engendering and spreading of cholera
it will be interesting to note a
few curious facts connected with this
pilgrimage which afford evidence of how
closely the custom is connected with the
very basis of Moslem fifth.
The pilgrimage belongs to the class
OF Ferd or divine ordinances obligatory
upon every Mohammedan once during
life. None of either sex are exempted, I'M
less by reason of extraordinary poverty;
even a blind man is bound if he have
means to hire a guide to take him to the
Kaaba. No woman is exempted unless
she cannot find a man to accompany her;
but this difficulty can always be obviat.
ed with the aid of money. Nevertheless,
the expenses of the pilgrimage are con
siderable-especially for Mohammedans
living in India, Central Asia, or other
remote countries-for each one must take
with him not only sufficient means
for his journey, but also something fox
charity; and, moreover, he must be-
fore his departure leave his family sufi-
cient means for support during an alb
sence which sometimes, even in these
days of steamers and railroads, lasts a
year. And so heinous is it considered
to neglect this pilgrimage, that the Mos
lem doctors at one time discussed the
ad visability of putting all to death who
refrained from performing it.
On the other hand the prophet has
promised the following heavenly graces
to all who piously make the tourney:
"Whosoever entereth Mecca shall de-
part therefrom pure as a ew-born
child"
"One prayer at Mecca is worth 100,-
600 prayers uttered elsewhere"
zone day of fast at Mecca shall be
held worth a fast of 100000 days else
where"
"One almsgiving at Mecca to the
amount of but one dirhem shall be re-
corded in heaven as equal to an aims of
100. 600 dirhems."
"Apd each single good action there
performed shall be held equal to 100, 600
good deeds wrought elsewhere"
she that shall endure the heat of Mecca
hell shall be'removed from him to the
distance of 200 years journey, and heaven
brought nearer to him by 200 years
Journey"
"The Lord looks down once every
night upon the world; the first city he
sees is Mecca, the first people ho beholds
are those who are praying therein"
Cali who perform the Thawaf 1.-THE
Three Visits) shall be delivered from the
pains of hell"
Furthermore, it is believed that all
or even of Medina. shall dwell in para
disc; and that at the day of judgment
the cemeteries of the pilgrims will be
lifted up TO heaven. The prophet him
self said that from the two cemeteries of
Mecca 10000 dead will enter into Para.
disc without having to render an account
to God and that each of these can take
with him into heaven 20, 900 dead "their
faces shall shine like the full MOON"
For months before the period of the
departure of the caravans, public criers in
many Moslem cities call the people to.
gether by sound of drum twice n week,
to proclaim the opportunity. "There is
but n God and Mahomet is his proph'
ct. Now the caravan will depart upon
the first day of the month of Djoumal-
ell Weull. Let each one come with his
tamels and his mules aud his provisions,
and take with him as much money a,
possible; for there will be naked ones tt
clothe, and hungry mes to feed, anG
thirsty ones to whom drink must be Civ
en-. Take ye also your weapons with
you. Invoke the blessing of Allah upon
those who are good to you!-let the i'll
hospitable receive your lead" etc.
Ali the way strange hymns are chant
ed by the marabouts, the crowd of pill
grims taking up the refrain; and espe
cial prayers are sung whenever a hill il
reached. Each caravan SHOULD contain
10000 pilgrims; but if that number can,
not be assembled, it is made up by the
angels.
When a pilgrim has once made the
two genufeXions ordained by law, ano
proclaimed his intention twice in a loud
voice, he cannot again turn back; he mus
fulfil the pilgrimage or die. All must cut
their toe-nails and f~inger-nails and depil
ate or shave all the body with these excep
tons: the men may preserve their boards
o,l fhof es,o1a ln,I- lnct ,-1r, {Lo Iooc
by which every good Mussulman is to b.
women need not cut off thei, hair. Mer
need not sacrifice all their moustaches
but must clip from the middle of thu
upper lip only. According to the relig
ious law the pilgrims must adopt tn
Arabian costume worn in the days of in
prophet-none may wear any sewn -
ment, and each must wear only a girdI
about his middle on visiting the Kaaba
The women must approach the holy plac
with faces unveiled. No pilgrim is al
lowed upon the journey to kill any AM
NAL, reptile. bird, or ~insect-except foul
mad dogs, rats, scorpions, and crows
because the prophet did not mentio
these in his conversations. In the sam
way, only two kinds of plants may b
cut down on the journey, because thes
we've exempted by Mahomet on accoun
of their medicinal virtues. But thes
regulations involve much flthiness. TIL
pilgrim is, indeed, allowed to take a he
between his finger and thumb, and de
posit it unhurl upon the sand; for 1es
can live in sand; but in regard to othe
vermin he must not drive them away
lest they die in the desert. Even if b
wishes to chase away the parasites tina
swarm over the hump of his dromedary
rendering the rider miserable, he mus
first make distribution of aims.
The kissing of the Black Stone, whic
has two eyes and a tongue, and will g
the last day cry out the names of all VIII
have not kissed it; the circuit of tn