Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-13
THREE NOTED TOMBS.
Sacred Spot Which the Arabs honor
as the Grave Of Mother Eve.
A HEADSTONE SENT FROM HEAVEN.
Last Resting Place Of the Fabled Lovers.
Paul and Virginia.
BONES OF DIR. LIvINGsTONFs WIFE
WRITTEN ron THE prspAroH.,


traveller visits the little town Of Jeddah. on
the Arabian coast of the Red Sea, yet every
year, as the sacred season Of the Hediaz
comes around, hundreds Of thousands Of de-
vout Musselmen are disembarke at lie
little harbor, intent on making o pilgrim
age TO the Mecca, which insures the happi-
ness and honor Of Paradise. It was not
with any intention OF attempting to visit
the tomb Of Mahomet ana to gaze on the
mysterious "Kaaba" that took sail one
moonlit night from Suakin and crossed the
turbulent Red Sea to Jeddah. NV object
was to visit the shrine of one venerated by
Christian and Ismalite alike-the tomb Of
Eve. the mother OF mankind.
Leaving Suakin just after sundown, when
the land breeze had sprung up, in a small
dhow with prodigious sail, arrived of
Jeddah about 9 o'clock the next morning.
As seen from the sea the town is very i'm
posing. The white houses, built entirely of
! coral rag are, many Of them, several stories
high aud adorned with bea utiful hanging
windows of carved wood work. The town
is entirely surrounded, except on the sea
'front.' by massive wall from 10 to 20 feet
high, with only three gates. At sundown
these gates are closed, and at all times they
are guarded by Turkish soldiers.
THE GRAVE OF MOTHER EVE.
As was obliged to leave Jeddah again
that night lost no time in getting ashore,
and after breakfast and tub, the latter of
| which was very necessary a ter a night in a
dhow, set off with one of the British Con-
sular cavasses to visit Ewes grave. This
| is situated about mile and half outside Of
the city on the north. Passing out by the
northern gate the land rises gradually to the
| grave, which is in tull view from the time
you leave the city wall. The country pre-
sents very sterile appearance, there being
but little vegetation. A few date palms
are dotted about, and away to the west in
the direction of Mecca, groups of stunted
acacia trees render the prospect less barren.
The approach to the tomb is up a sandy
slope, rising about 200 ieet above the town.
! The grave itself is 160 feet long and feet
wide, and is surrounded by stone wall 4
feet high, covered with chunam. In the
center OF it rises a small dome-crowned
mosque, wherein pilgrims assemble to say
their prayers. The mosque is in charge Of
some dervishes who have plenty to do in
keeping it clear of the crowds of beggars who
assemble and clamor for backsheesh.
Inside, the mosque is perfectly plain, ex-
cept that in the center is erected an altar.
This stands about three feet high and is
covered with curtains. The curtains being
drawn aside dlscloses black stone let into
the floor. This stone is supposed to lie
directly over the tomb of Eve, and is pol
ished like marble by the kisses of the faith
full. 1t is by no means permitted to every
pilgrim to place his lips on this sacred spot,
but by liberal amount of backsheesh and
the presence of the Consular cavasses was
permitted the honor, and accordingly the
curtain was drawn, and, on hands and
knees, paid homage to our legendary
mother.
ESPECIALLY SENT FROM HEAVEN.
The stone which is treated with so much
honor is very curious one, evidently me-
teoric, and is supposed, like the Kaaba of
the Mecca, to have been specially sent
down from heaven for its present use. I
had long chat with the chief custodian OF
the tomb, who told me that the Office had
been in the family for generations. He
said that the most regular visitors to the
shrine are the Bedouins, who, in their
yearly wanderings through the Arabian
desert, rarely fail to visit the tomb.
asked him If there were any legend as to
why Eve was supposed to be buried there,
but he knew none, and asked, "W there else |
would she be buried except on this sacred
soil?"
1t is certainly curious that legendary lore |
should assign two spots so distant from each |
other for the graves OF our first parents.
While Eve rests on the shores of che Red |
Sea, adam is popularity supposed to lie |
buried under the forest-clad slopes of |
Adams Peak, In Ceylon. On my walk |
back to Jeddah asked my companions II |
they supposed the grave represented the |
stature OF Eve, and they said Surely" A |
stroll through the bazaar brought pleasant |
day 10 close, and soon alter sundnwn ! |
was again on the sea, bound for the African
coast
GRAVES OF PAUL AND VIRGINIA.
II Is far away from the Red Sea to the |
Isle Of France, and probably no greater con-
trast could be imagined than that which
exists between the arid shores OF Arabia |
and the tropic luxuriance Of Maurltius.
Yet, Just rs the tomb of Eve has imbued
the desert with an interest II would not
otherwise possess, so has Benardin 81.
Pierre's romance Of "Paul and Virginia"
spread q halo round MaurtIus, For Paul
and Virginia In the flesh aud their true
story IL NO less touching than the fable.
In the year 1744 terrible famine ragged
over the Isle ol France, and on the receipt
Of the news In Europe u ship called the st. !
Gerau was dispatched with stores TO the
relief Of the Governor. The ship after u
evening off the island. The captain know.
ing the straits the inhabitants were In, was
anxious TO com municate with the shore aS
soon as possible, and endeavored to take his
ship 10 by night, Although they were but
O mile from land only three escaped, those
who could swi i'm being seized by the sharks
which nfest those waters.
On board the st. Gerau were two lovers.
Mile. Malett and Mons. de Peramon, who
were to be married when they reached the
island. Their grief at the idea of being
separated when the ship struck was terrible
and clasping each other In their arms they
awaited their late. At length wave swept
them from the deck, and the next morning
final embrace, where they had washed
ashore on the little beach Of what has since
been known as Tombeau Bay.
THE GRAVE STILL MARKED,
Such Is the true story of Paul and vir.
ginia, and in u grove of majestic ruffa
palms, hard by the little beach, stands their
grave to this day. The drive from Port
Louis 10 Pamplemousses, where the grave
Is situated, is lovely one, and harmonizes
well with the romance attached 10 the spot.
talipat line the road, and at the time
visited il the beautiful famboyant was in
full bloom, and threw its scarlet spikes in
every direction across the pathway.
The grave itself is situated little to the
left Of the road, about seven miles from
Port Louis. 1t isa simple structure OF
stone, about 8 feet high above the ground
No inscription tells who rests beneath, but
the inevitable guide is at hand to point it
out, and demand ''pour boire" for his
pains. The stones have been sadly mutt
lated by relio-hunting tourists. A mag
nifceut bougaiuvilloea spreads its purple
mantle overhead, and ! collected some of