Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-10-23
THE FIRST WOMAN.
visit to the Grave of the Mother of the
Human Race.


1t is not very often that an American
visits the little town of Jiddah, on the
Arabian coast of the Red sea; yet, every
year, as the sacred season of the Hedjaz
comes around, hundreds of thousands of
devoat Mussulmans are disembarked at
it's little harbor, intent on making pill
grimage to Mecca, which insures to them
the happiness and honor of paradise. 1t
was not with any intention Of attempting
to visit the tomb of Mohammed and to
gaze on the mysterious "Kaaba" that J.
took sail one moonlit night from Suakim,
and crossed the turbulent Red sea to
Jiddah. My object was to visit the
shrine of one venerated by Christian and
Islamite alike-the reputed tomb of
Eve, mother of all mankind, writes a
correspondent of the New York Her
aid.
The country presents very sterile
appearance, there being but little vege-
tation. A few date palms are dotted
about, and away to the west, in the di-
rection of Mecca, groups of stunted
acacia trees render the prospect
less barren. The approach to the tomb
is up sandy slope, rising about 200 feet
above 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 to say their prayers.
The mosque is in charge of some der
wishes, who have plenty to do in keeping
it clear of the crowds of beggars who
assemble and clamor for backsheesh.
INSIDE the mosque in perfectly plain,
except that in the center is erected an
altar. This stands about three feet high
and is covered with curtains. The cur
tains being drawn aside disclose black
stone let into the floor.
The 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 a liberal amount of back
| sheesh and the presence of the consular
| canvass I was permitted the honor, and
| accordingly the curtain was drawn. and
| on hands and knees I paid homage to
| our legendary mother.
The stone which is treatel with SO
much honor is very curious one, evil
IDENTIFY meteoric, and is supposed. like the
Kaaba at Mecca, to have been specially
sent down from heaven for its present
| use.
had long chat with the chief Gus
todian of the tomb, who told me that the
office had been in the family for genera
tions. 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
| Ewes 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 soil?''
1t is certainty curious that legendary
lore should select 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 sup
| posed to lie buried under the forest clad
! slopes of Adams Peak, in Ceylon. On
| my walk back to Jiddah asked my com
| panions if they supposed the grave repre-
sented the stature of Eve, and they said,
surely"