The morning call., 1890-08-17
SOME LEGENDS
OF THE DEAD.
The Spot Which Many Arabs
Honor as the Tomb of Eve.
Where this Wife of Explorer Livingstone was
Laid at Rest "A Visit to the Distant
Grave of Paul and Virginia.

yet every year as the sacred season OF the
Hedjaz comes around, hundreds of thou
sands of devout Musselmans are disembark-
ed at its little harbor, intent on making a
pilgrimage to the Mecca, which insures the
happiness and honor of paradise.
1t was not with any intention of attempt
ing to visit the tomb of Mohammed and to
gaze on the mysterious Kaaba" that I
took sail one moonlight night from Suakim
and crossed the turbulent Red Sea to Jed
dab, writes Laurance c. Goodrich to the
Boston Globe. My object was to visit the
shrine of one venerated by Christian and
Ishmaelite alike the tomb of Eve, the
mother of mankind.
Leaving Suakim just after shutdown, when
the land breeze mad sprung up. in small
dhow with prodigiouS sail, / arrived off
Jeddah about 9 o'clock the next morning.
As seen from the sea the town is very I'M
posing. The tall white houses, built en-
tirely of coral rag, are, many of them, sew
eral stories high, and adorned with
beautiful hanging windows of carved
woodwork. The town is entirely sur
rounded, except on the sea front, by a
massive wall from fifteen to twenty feet
high, through which three gates give egress
to the country beyond. At sundown all of
these gates are closed, and at all times they
are guarded by Turkish soldiers.
The channel by which the harbor is
reached is very intricate, as coral reefs crop
up in every direction, and are constantly
growing. There are, however, plenty Of
native pilots, always waiting outside to
pilot dhows in, and. taking one on board,
we were soon safely anchored off the main
landing.
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 necessary after a night in
dhow, set off with one of the British con-
sulate's 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
raises gradually to the grave which is in
full view from the time you leave the city
wall. The country presents a very stern
appearance, there being but little vegeta-
ton. A few date palms are dotted about,
and away to the west in the direction of
Mecca groupSe of SIunted acacia trees render
the prospect less barren. The approach to
the tomb is on sandy slope, rising about
200 feet above the town.
The grave itself is 100 feet long and five
feet wide, and is surrounded by stone
wall four feet high. covered with chunam.
In the center of it rises small dome
crowned mosque, wherein pilgrims assemble
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 all altar.
This stands about three feet high, and is
covered with curtains. The curtains being
drawn aside disclose a black stone let into
the floor This stone is supposed to lie
directly over the
TOMB OF EVE,
And is polished like marble by the kisses of
the faithful. 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 consul
lar eaVaSses was permitted the honor, and
accordingly tae curtain was drawn and Oh
hands and knees L paid homage to our
legendary mother. The stone which is
treated with so much honor is very curious
one, evidently meteorlc, and is supposed,
like the Kaaba Of the Mecca, to have been
specially sent down from heaven for its
present use.
l 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 was any legend as to why Eve
was supposed to be buried there, but he
knew none, and asked, Where else would
she be buried except on this sacred soiia"
1t is certainly curious that legendary lore
should assign to spots so distant from each
other for the graves of our first parents
While Eve rests on the shores of the 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 if they supposed the grave rep
resented the stature OF Eve and they said
surely" A stroll through the bazaar
brought pleasant day to close, and soon
after shutdown l was again on the sea,
bound for the African coast.
1t is far away from the Red Sea to the Isle
of France, and probably no greater con-
trast could be imagined than that which ex-
lists between the arid shores of Arabia and
the trOpic luXurlance of MaurltiuS. Yet
just as the tomb of Eve has imbued the des-
ert with an interest it would not otherwise
possess, so has Bernardin st. Pierre's ro-
nance OF Paul and Virginia spread a halo
round Mauritius.
No one would think of visiting the isl
and without paying visit to the graves of
the hero and heroine on whose sad fate
st. Pierre founded his romance. For Paul
and Virginia in the flesh and their true
story is no less touching than the fable.
In the year 1I44 a terrible famine ragged
over the Isle of France, and on the receipt
Of the news in Europe a ship called the St
Gerau was dispatched with stores to the
relief of the Governor, Matte de Labour-
donais. The ship, after prosperous voy-
age, arrived one summer evening off the
island.
The captain knowing the straits the in
habltants were In was anxious to communi-
cate with the shore as soon as possible, and
endeaVOred to take his ship in by night
Although they were but mile from land
only three escaped, those who could swim
being seized by the sharks which infest
those waters.
On board the ST. Gerau were two lovers.
Mile. Malett and NJ. de Peramon, who we're
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 fate. At length wave
swept them from the deck, and the next
morning their bodies were found still
washed ashore on little beach of what has
since been known as Tombeau Bay.
Such is the true story of Paul and Vir-
GINA, and in grove of
MAJESTIC RUFFIA PALMS
Hard by the little beach stands their grave
to this day. The drive from Port Louis to
Pamplemousses, where the grave is stu
ated, is lovely one and harmonizes we'll
with the romance attached to the spot.
Palms of all sorts, including the beautiful
TALBOT (COrypha umbraculifera) line the
road, and at the time visited it the beauti-
full hamboyant was in full bloom and threw
its scarlet spikes in every direction across
the pathway.
The grave itself is situated a little to the
left of the road, about seven miles from
Port Louis. 1t is simple Structure of
stone. about three feet high above the
ground; NO inscription tells who rests be-
meath, but the inevitable guide is at hand to
point it out and demand "pour boire" for
his pains.
The stones have been sadly mutilated by
relic-hunting tourists, who have Clipped
and disfigured them il barbarous man
ner. a magnificent bougainyillea spreads
its purple mantle overhead, AMI l collected
some of the brilliantspetais as a memento
of the spot. Clumps of scarlet ponoea and a
monster passion flower added more beauty
TO scene thoroughly in harmony with the
memories Of the spot
1hara has latalY been q snhama 10 NUT nm