Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-06

religion. resided in Mecca for a long time
and published complete history of the
city and a description of the ceremonies
that take place there, with msny filustra-
lions. 1t is understood that several reck-
less 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 sub.
ject and do not believe the rumor.
Mecca is supposed TO be a pure and holy
place, a center of learning and piety, and
an earthly paradise from which sin and
suffering have been nanished and where
nothing but peace. purity and happiness
abound. But from the descriptions of those
who have been there it is very far from be-
ing such ideal. 1t is said to be sink
of depravity and vice. ds bad as Sodom and
Gomorrah. Its location is unhealthful and
uncomfortable because it lies in a hot
sandy amphitheater almost surrounded by
and shut out any breeze that might be wan
dering that way. One gentleman who has
been there described it to me as hell
pit The streets are narrow. crooked and
unpaVed. In the dry season the dust is al
most inSufferable and during the rainy sea-
son the streets are ankle deep in slime. The
houses are generally large and lofty, built
of stone, with thick walls and small win
dows, five and six stories in height, badly
ventilated and without comforts.
Every building except a few belonging to
the high priests and rich devotees is used
as a boarding house in the pilgrim season
Several Mohammedan communities own
houses or khans, as they are called, for the
accommodation of pilgrims from their
neighborhood, and hose who come from the
same countries and towns naturally flock
together. Although cleanliness and purity
is a part of the Mohammedan religion, and
a believer is required to battle five times a
day, the water supply of Mecca is INSULT
Gent and expensive. 1t is brought by an
aqueduct from springs in the foothills seven
miles distant, and is controlled by cor
,i,,lN 10 I,aiIy I-l
head of the church at Constantnople. and
the shereef of Mecca, the highest ecclesias-
teal authority in Arabia, are the principal
stockholders. The sherecf is practically gov
ernor of abba. He is chosen by the Sheik
ell Islam from among the priestly descend
ants of Mahomet, who number thousands,
but the appointment must be confirmed by
the Sultan of Turkey. He has a military
guard and escort and mis- authority is abso-
lutte.
The water of the we'll of Zemzem, which
is supposed to be sacred is sold to pilgrims
by a company having that privilege, and Is
peddled about the streets in jars. The
price is merely nominal, but is a good deal
for the poorer pilgrims to pay.
The Sacred Stone.
The sacred stone, which stands in the
center of the Kaaiba or mosque, and which
is the hottest object in all Islam, is sup
posed from the descriptions to be a meteor
but no competent authority has ever exam
ined it. 1t is black, like copper. and has
been worn smooth and polished by the kiss
es of pilgrims, for it has been an object or
worship for nearly 1900 years At some
time or another. by some unknown acct
dent it was broken, probably during an in
vasion of barbarians, and the pieces have
been bound together by broad band of
silver.
Shortly after his arrival the pilgrim per-
forms his additions, puriffes himself, puts
on the orthodox robes. which consist of two
simple pieces of white cloth, and runs
around the Kaaba seven times, kissing the
black stone on each circuit He then drinks
from the water OF the holy well and pro-
ceeds with his prayers and the other cere-
monies, which continue eleven days.
After the ceremonies of Mecca are over,
those pilgrims who can afford it go to
Medina to visit the tomb of Mahomet, al
though that journey is voluntary and is not
required by the Koran. Medina is a town
of 10000 inhabitants, who live entirely upon
pilgrims and plumber them without con-
science Indeed, both of the so-called holy
cities are filed with robbers of whom the
highest officials have the least mercy for
their victims.