Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-06-13

| cloth, one Of which is wrapped about the
loins like a highland kilt and the other
thrown over the upper part of the body In
such way as to leave the right arm I'M
covered. As no other garment, not even so
much as covering for the head, is permit
| ted while it is worn, it makes an airy dress,
especially in the evening and at early morn
ing, when the Mecca air is often as shrewd
as that of Edinburgh.
Thus we visited with our companions the
beitullah, or temple, an imposing building
| with more gates and minarets and courts
and domes and marble, granite and por-
phyry pillars than I had time to count.
Rance we were obliged to leave in the porch
with a great crowd of her own sex, for the
Moslem will allow 40 woman, however
beautiful or pious or exalted, to set foot in
his temple. Thus the Mohammedan ladies,
less fortunate than their Christian sisters,
are denied the privilege of displaying the
| latest fashions in church.
I Inside the pavements were full of men in.
every posture of rapt devotion, some kneel-
ing, some sitting with bent heads, others
prostrate on the floor. At sight of these
we stopped for one minute, bowling low:
then with a solemn, measured step, we ad-
vanced five abreast upon the kaaba, keep
ing our eyes fast upon it. On reaching it
we stopped again, but only for an instant.
.>roceeding at the same pace as before we
went round it seven times, reciting in low
voice certain prescribed verses from the
Koran, only we interrupted ourselves at
each round to kiss the black stone which,
as all believed, was brought direct from
heaven by the angel Gabriel.
Having done our duty by the kaaba and
the black stone we turned to the zemzem-
that is to say, the holy well which God
miraculously created for the outcast Hagar
and her son, the father of the children of
the desert. We drank of its waters and
washed in them (for the benefit Of succeed.
ing hadjis), but there was one pilgrim at
least who would have taken draft
of epson salts with more relish. The zem-
zem may be good to wash in, but it is not
good to drink from, a fact which the Arabs
themselves tacitly acknowledge by refrain.
ing from partaking of its waters oftener
than once year.
Purified of our sins, we returned to the
pavement already mentioned, and there.
went down in groups and said our prayers
Then slowly retracing our steps we passed
through great door, and lol we were in the
midst of the fair again. Rance, who was
waiting for US, ran to me clasping her
hands in ecstasy.
"Now, verify thou art one Of us in spite
of thy English face" she said, freezing the
blood in my veins.
"For Gods sake, hush" whispered
hastily "Not syllable. as thou lowest
me-"
She looked hurt, but said no more, and
glanced fearfully round, half expecting to
see dagger coming at me. But luckily
the hubbub had drowned her speech.
The remaining rites were performed with
demonstrative zeal and JUNCTION, the mos:
trifing detail being done strictly according
to the letter of the law. We went to
Mount Arafat to hear the sermons with a
throng that laughed and jested, batting each
other with the toughest of wit and sarcasm,
and read the Koran and prayed aloud and
sang snatches of love songs all in the same
breath. All night, in blaze Of ineffable
brlliancy, we made merry at the foot OF
| the mountain-pashas and sheiks and chiefs
and governors and priests and camel drivers
| and beggars and stray Bedouins, great men
and small, learned and ignorant mingling
| like brothers. for all men are equal during
| the hajj.
At noon the next day we ascended the
mountain to listen to sermon, which last
ed without break or halt till sunset. Then
we hurried elsewhere to hear one that lasted
till sunrise. Having reverently and pa
tiently heard the preachers, we went to the
valley of Meina, where we sacrificed multi.
tudes of sheep and fowls, and cast21 stones
| apiece at the devil, and pared our nails,
and had our heads shaved by BARRIERS, who
took most of the skin as we'll as the hair
All these things done devoutly and thor.
oughly, we returned to Mecca, and after
paying another visit to the mosque threw
off the hiram with great rejoicing Our
fasting and praying were at an end, and we
were free to eat, drink and be merry after
the manner of our own hearts.
| After the religious ceremonies comes
great fair which lasts three days and is at
tended by pilgrims and traders from the
ends of the earth and by many who neither
| trade nor worship in themosque. The escene
is picturesque and animated, for the gran
dees spread gorgeous tents and Moslem trad
ers drive bargains with unequaled energy
of voice and gesture. TO many the fair Is
much more than the ceremonies at the
kaaba or Mount Arafat.
On the second day of the fair, well toward
evening, Tabal and were strolling at our
leisure, having nothing particular to do but
enjoy the sights and the cool air. We were
chatting carelessly over our past hardships
and wondering what Suleiman and Amood
Sim and the man on the black horse were
about when, in passing tent of unusual
size and magnifcence, we heard sound
that brought us to halt, listening with all
our senses.
"HarkW said. What notes are those"
81 know them not" answered Tabal
"They are not Of my tongue"
The singing was hardly more than
Groom, but as we hardened the singer sud-
denly raised his voice. and l was electrified
to hear an English song sung with a per
feet English accent.
Lock the door, Lariston, lion Of Lddesdale.
Lock the door, Lariston; Louther comes on.
Tto Armstrong; are flying,
The widows are crying,
The Castletown's burning, and divers gone.
Lock the door, Lariston; high on the weather
gleam
See how the Saxon plumes bob on the sky!
Yeonan and carbineer,
Billman and halberdier,
| F9erco is the foray, and far Is the cryl
Bewcastle brandishes high his broad scimiter'
Ridley Is riding his fleet footed gray:
Hidley and Howard there,
Wandell and Windermere.
Lock the door, Lariston; hold them at bay!
An interval of brisk whistling followed.
Then came stave of an old Scotch ballad:
Blithe, blithe, bithe was she.
Bllthe was she but and ben,
And weel she liked q Hawick gill
And leugh to see tappit hen.
The singing ceased abruptly, the curtain
that was across the door Of the tent swung
back, and man stepped forth. Eewas tall,
straight as rush and dressed in the finest
fashion of sheik.
At sight of him Tabal clutched my arm
with convulsive fingers.
"By the holy prophet, the man on the
| black horse or his spiritl' he said in q voice
of awe. And just then the mans eyes fell
on us. They drew me rs the magnet draws
the steel.
Donald Gordonp' cried, running to-