Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-04-11
NEARCLASHINGP POINT

M,Aammelan world, from the Straits
I of Gibraltar to Honolulu. for Islam
( has its believers In every country Of
Asia and every island of the Pacific
ocean. including the Philippines
where there are about 100000 Mo
hnmmedans. The largest number of
pilgrims from outside of Arabia comes
! from India and in 1902 there were
about 1900. The East India islands
! furnished the second largest number,
about $1,000: Turkey, 1900; the states
Of North Africa, 1900; Egypt. 5000.
Persia. 5000. and the rest come from
the other countries The number ar
riviag by sen was G3.Sl2 and by land
80 2Q5 These figures are a little un-
der the facts, because many indiyid-
uals and small parties slipped in and
out OF Mecca without being counted
JiIdah is Of particular interest to us
because It contains the tomb OF our
| Mother Eve never knew before
where she was buried, but it is a com
fort to know It will surprise her liv-
ing relatives to know that she was
1i0 feet tall-a very large woman to
be created from single rib. Accord
Ing to the tradition of the Moslems,
when our first parents fell from Par
adise. Adam landed on mountain in
Ceylon and Eve was unfortun
enough to light at Jlddlh. After ye rt
Of wandering they finally met at NJ
ca, where Adam, to show his gra J.
tude. constructed a tabernacle on the
site of the present Kaaba. or Holy
Mosque. which is exactly beneath
Gods throne in heaven All that is
left of the original temple Of Adam
is the famous stone of Mecca, which
was once whittier than snow. but has
been turned as black rs coal by the
kisses OF sinful pilgrims
When Eve died Adam buried her at
Jiddah Her tomb Is a cenotaph 1i0
feet long, built of masonry about four
feet high and borrowing to n point
at the top. II is whitewlshed and
kept clean Pilgrims place flowers
upon It and reverenty kiss the hot
masonry
Rich people oflcn throw over the
cenotaph valuable shawls and pieces
of silk as offerings, TO the Mother OF
Us an but they are stolen the first
night by the vanials Of Jiddah. who
rob the dead and pick the pockets OF
the dying
a larger proportion of the pilgrims
than / supposed are rich men or those
who are wellto-do. II is the popular
impression that a pilgrim to Mecca
must be necessarily lean. hungry
naked fanatic, with hollow eyes and
long hair. creeping toward the Holy
City with trembling steps by the aid
Of his stan There are thousands OF
such to be seen annually. but | am told
that 60 per cent Of the people who
visit the place from religious motives
are able to pay their way and spend
money literally The poor are ac-
commodated in khans. where they
sleep like animals, and beg their food.
but in Jiddah and in Mecca are large
numbers OF hotels some of them
handsomely equipped from the ori-
entail point OF view for the benefit of
those who can afford TO pay the
charges. The pilgrimage is not only
4 religious duty. but those who make
it are sure OF a place in paradise;
hence every dcyout Moslum makes the
journey. and thereafter Is entitled to
be called a "hadji'' and wear a green
turban the color Of the prophet
The Koran forbids inndels to pol
lutte by their presence the sacred pre-
cincts OF the birthplace Of the prophet
At Mecca and his burial plae at Me-
dina. which is rs miles north. and It is
always dangerous and generally i'm
possible for a Christian or any unbe-
Never 10 attempt 70 enter either city,
ont If DO has money he is welcome to
land at Jldd8h and stay as long as 1t
lasts. And a considerable portion. of
the population OF that port are jews
and Greeks. Notwithstanding the
danger from fanatics, several Europ-
cans have visited Mecca and publish
ed accounts Of their experiences. The
hest relations are by Richard Burton,
who visited both Mecca and Medina
disguised as a pilgrim in 1853, and
Thomas F.. Keene, who went there in
1880. A Dutch scholar from Java
named Snouck Hurgronje professed
the Moslem religion, resided in Mecca
for long time and published a com
plete history Of the city and de.
scripton of the ceremonies that take
place there. with many Illustrations
It is understood that several reckless
people have been murdered within the
last two or three years while making
the attempt The young doctors from
Beirut. however. have no Information
on that subject and do not believe the
rumor
Mecca Is supposed 10 be pure and
holy place, a center of learning and
piety. and an earth'v paradise from
which sin and s'aaring have been
banished and where nothing but
peace purity nd happiness abound
But from t'. lesH-.1 IONS of those
who have boon thCra is far from he
ing such an idc ls said to be a
sink of deprayi' an vice. as bad as
So1om and Cor Frah It's location is
unhealthful all IN )mfortable, be
cnuap IL liga La "a ha sandy onnhi