Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-12

prestige in Islam if he lost the holy city.
 Centuries before the birth of Mahom- med, Mecca, on the highway leading from Syria to Yemen, was sanctuary for many pilgrims. In the days of Ma hommed. the prophet designated the Kaaba the house of Allah, and a pill grimage to the Kaaba became one of the five cardinal duties of every Ma hommedan. A Mahommedan whose health and means make it at all pos sible, must make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once.
 The pilgrimage may be made at any time, but the full rites. including the sermon from the sacred mountain of Arafat, can be carried out only during the month of pilgrimage, the twelfth month of the Mohammedan calendar.
 Mecca is described as a narrow val ley surrounded by bare hills from 200 to 800 feet high. It lies about half way down that long strip of Turkish terri tory bordering on the Red sea, and the city is situated about 60 miles inland. Mecca ordinarily has population of some 50,000. The only manufactures are rosaries and pottery. The people live chiefly by letting out lodgings to pilgrims.
 During the month of the pilgrimage SO many worshipers make the Hajj (pilgrimage), there are crowded in the town sometimes 100000 strangers. An editorial in the Chicago Record-Herald, commenting on the probable Arab on- slaught on the city. remarks: The fighting around Mecca, if 1t comes, may not be more costly in lives than is an ordinary annual pilgrimage under the hideous sanitary conditions which ex- ist when the hordes concentrate on the little spot of territory"
 System is used in caring fer the pill grims; each section of Mohammedan- ism in the world has representatives stationed a. Mecca. whose duty It IS to take care each O. its own pilgrims. see that they arc provided with loig- ing-instructed concerning the cere- monies.
 There is infinite ceremonial to be gone through with. prior to and sue ceeding arrival in the holy city. The intending pilgrims assemble at various appointed places near Mecca. and make ready for the entrance. They bathe and clothe themselves in two woolen wrappers. one around the shoulders. the other about the middle: with bare head and slippers lacking heel and in- step. they then wade their way toward Mecca. Arriving. they walk seven times around the Kaaba. the ceremony of tawaf.
 Daily they perform this rite. and also the running between the two mounts of safa and Merva. prayers ac- companying the rites. Standing In prayer and listening to a sermon on the mountain of Arafat Is followed by a night spent in holy devotions. which night is followed by the pilgrims pro- ceeeding to the valley of Nina and casting stones to put the devil to flight. The pilgrimage ends with the sacrifice of goat. sheep. COW or camel. After three days more in Mecca. with daily circuits of the Kaaba. and after drinking from the holy well of Zem- zen. he may take his departure. From the time the pilgrims earb was as sunned outside the city until the end of the pilgrimage. shaving and bathing are prohibited
 Such Is the fanzticism al Mecca all nou-belIsvers are exeluded from the sacred ground Very few have ever been able to gain entrance The pil- erims are Mslays. Indians. negroes. Persians. Turks Egyptians. Syrians. Tartars and Chinsee
 ALFRED wHIrEHOrsE.
 New York Woman Teek Carbelfc-
 PITTsFIELD- Mass Aag l2- Wealthy. hsudsone and apparently hsppy In her home. Mrs. Ib>resa Hol- lander. thirtyeieht years esd- wife cf !. R HoIl.nder- New York committed suicide st Ccluus.s ksn . sumner resort hoteI at Lfaanoa springs1 N Y- by swallowing ca ouzce and . half of sarbes1e scsd