The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-04

they do. without riskng ones neck 10
enter Mecca In Disguise as Burton did.
one finds out that II hasn't Sufficient hotel
accommodations for convention town.
From S009 10 209e0 Mohammedams are
likely TO turn up there each year, a horde
which II would puzzle any American city
10 house Mecca doesn't house them.
They camp In the suburbs under such COM
ditions that the trouble which smote John
Jones and lhis sister Sua is theirs. a. viii
be- related.
Every male Mohammedan-w women don't
count-must some time In his life make
the pilgrimage Any time before he6ies will
answer; II business IS pretty good. he
doesn't like TO leave IL. II business ~ bad
money Is scarce. So the not very jealous
Monammedan Is apt TO put on the duty
until he gets a stroke OF paralysis or other
intimatlon OF the nniteness OF man: when,
with one foot Ia the grave. he starts on
a Journey that would kill well man.
Take but one step toward Mecca and
salvation is yours-that is the comfort
able doctrine which sets men upon be-
ginning the piigrimage who can't even
take the one step, but are borne from
their doors groaning In the grip OF death.
Others less sorely sm.tten. recover on
the way. More do not.
Besides these remnants. thsr- are few
fairly rich men making the journey with
a
and boat 20 Dieddah. thence overland
with only two days and half Of caravan
ufe 10 the sacred city. There are fewer
rich pilgrims than formerly. because faith
decays by contact with the Frank and
b. European education. a good many
rich Monammedans now 20 oy proxy. IL
Is cheaper. as the substitute can get along
with steerage ticket.
It's a picturesque feature or modern
travel these pilgrims on train and boat.
Five times day they must md tempo
rary mosque and PROSTATE themselves
toward Mecca on shipboarG they 90
either 10 the PROV or stern. kick OF their
slippers and bow and rub their foreheads
on the deck On the trains / have seen
them get oat on the car platforms, spread
down their robes for prayer-fugs. bare
their feet and PROSTATE themselves
That's quite comfortable travelling while
IL lasts IT'S different for the poor man.
This pilgrim travel - Ike no other on
earth. The boats have neither settled
times q starting nor settled rates % fare.
The owner furnishes ueithsr food nor bed
ding sometimes not even water. 80 that
A few extra passengers mean almost clear
nront. A 5da-ten boat wtii b. licensed 10
carry about SD paying passengers. After
the inspector has measured nsr deck
space, four hospital pens VIII D. h1ilt cut
II II Instead CT subtractinE those they
are asiae5-on the old Tweed rale ~ aa-
dillon. division and silence. Taen ?" Or
SO more passengers are crowded on ana
entered or The books as destitute psi8rlEi1s
whom the boat Is obliged 5y the govern
gnent 70 carry free. Really they pay from
nwe 20 elgk; Turkish pounds eAc'i. 80 taAt
for TIE Illegal overriding thcre may ~
several thousand dollars 80 divae t@-
tweaa the Inspectors fhe ship's crew for
snetr extra uork. tire shore ofnesais, 1he
agent % the ship and ar o~"eF. Aha x
-. tss,s~ "a r.st always 81 1he larger
share. ana taeY 10 get Is as good as
r,sruev found ln tha street. C0Hslesr thAt
ta~re are t@sa1v sr thsTiY S2eh ships eaeh
w~.r aras Il Is net 20 pe wondered AZ tnat
fs.m ess,~fxls eusFzHftns and other, are
al. % ray considerable spFns 20 their So
vseriors aaa retire after few years In the
service
have said tnAt tbera are TO settled
u-scex - a rsAa hasn't money ne puts
soxn Tor his ;iskef a texsssa dagger o.
sgAex sraEksx- Az. G. COURSE t.= steam