The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-08-19
THE MECCA PILGRIM
IMPOSING ANNUAL OERR-
OF THE MoHAMMEDAN wo

liz pilgrimage to Mecca
occurs every year in ttI
month which the \.
medans call Ramadam Is,
religious as well as sanitary II
view, ,one OF the problems with VIII
civilized world will eventually h(
deal. Every year it adds new fuel
,fanaticism that seeks by the couq'
the interior of the African contiul
maintain the slave trade, aud
means Of infection by which is df
mated that most deadly Of epi
scourges, the cholera. The faite
all parts Of the Mohamnednn woftl
tain it,and the two prmcipat <MusS
rulers-thc Khedive Of Egypt ar
Sultan Of Turkey-lend it counts,
in order to maintain their authorit.'
their subjects aud their moral suppl
among the followers OF the prop,
general. The Khedive sends ant
with imposing ceremony, II conses
carpet, and the Sultan a quanS
valuable presents, accompanied 1
magnificent cortege.
Access to the holy city is easier
in former times. Mecca is sixa
miles from Jeddah on the Red Sc
Is most easily approached by this
The Mohammedans of Morocco, AL
Tunisia, Tripoli aud tho north Of >
go to Jeddah by steamer when tn,
Afford it, or find their way to Il
Sea by caravan. Those from tho
OF the Sahara, from tho Soudan, I,
interior Of Africa follow general,
caravan routes to Suakim, Massow
other ports on the western shore u
Red Sea, whence they cross to j
in dhows. The Mohammedans
India come by the French, Engli
German steamers that connect L,
with the far East, bringing the gerI
tue cholera in their filthy garh
There are four other principal rout,
sides that Of Jeddah, which are en-
overland. These lead from Yem
Southwestern Arabia, from Nejd {
Persian Gulf, from Persia aud fror
north of Syria. The Persian route
to the north OF Nejd. The gifts O
Sultan start from Damascus and
south through Palestine into A
where the caravan has the protect
several subsidized tribes. To this c,
are generally Joined the Kurds,
Albanians aud Syrians. The
caravan sets out from the city of
The pilgrims Of means travel
oeS~>.- - '--~--.. -and- -aa wall mr.
for the journey, but the, are
with the caravans a great number G
sons in such stat. OF destitutiol
they are obliged TO live entirely by
given by their fellow travellers with
or less willingness while their own
last. These poor wretches are the
fanatic believers. Even under the
favorable circumstances their bones
the desert for the entire length I
route. An unbeliever who hat
audacity to unite himself to C,
would be detected and assassinatcd
before reaching Mecca, unless like
ton, he were thoroughly acquainted
the language of some Moharnl
country and with Mohammedau Gu
and religious rites. When the multi
brought by all these caravans have
verged at Mecca, a city badly provisi
whose water, naturally bad, is po
by the presence of such filty horde
jected to no sanitary regulations,
the heat during the Rsmadam mo
always intolerable, the misery is
scribable and the mortality exc
ev,n in seasons considered he
When the cholera prevails Mecca il
ply cherne! house, and what pas
only known to the Christian woI
the chance reports Of more intel
pilgrims which find their way int
European papers.
When all the rites and ceremonie
acted of every faithful pilgrim
been conscientiously performed II
holy city those who have not
cumbed to heat, fatigue or disease
their faces home ward, carrying
them usually tie germs Of some dis
able or dangerous disorder, au
variably in their hearts more fer
hatred Of the inhdcl. la Persia
fanaticism finds vent in revolts di
against the Shah, who IS accus
being TOO favorable to the Christia
Turkey in a general opposition to f
Influence, in Algeria in threateut
surrection against the authority E.
French, in the Soudan in the
tcnince Of the slave trade. 1t is {
traffic that Christianity and NJ
mechanism will finally have to join
1t is only Mohammedanism that
tains slavery. Its strongholds a
Morocco and Arabic, to supply
harems Tippu Tib and other trad
Arab descent, or natives converte
the Mohanmcdan invasion, make
| razzias and dccimate the African t
This question of interest renders
| problems arising from the relatio
Christianity to the followers ol
hammel much more difficult of sol,
The Mecca pilgrimage bids fair to
its part this year rs usual in spre
the cholera, which has appeared in v
epidemic form IN several locslit
| lndn snd Central Asia.-San Fra