The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-05

william and John Streets, New York.
Bab-cl-mandeb. It is not wide, and
1t terminates little back OF the coast
where the Abyssinian hills begin. 1t
Is only a few years since the Italians
tried to include in ErItrea a large part
OF Abyssinia, and failed owing to tho
bravery OF King Menelik. The land
they have now is OF small value. Thera
are only few tracts that can be irri-
gated, and the exports are nothing.
The strip is inhabited by nomads. who
raise camels. oxen. sheep and goats.
The pasturage is scanty, and the shep-
herds move about from place to place
with their stock. Some OF the tribes
1--we In tents made OF mating, and their
wants are simple to an extreme.
Mnssavn.
The chief Italian port is Massawa.
II Is little town situated on a coral
island and Joined to the mainland by q
causeway. 1t has two short railways,
which connect 1t with the Abyssinian
hills. and which comprise altogether
about forty-eight miles Of track. The
road Is to be continued to the town OF
Asmara. near which some gold mines
have been opened.
The Port for Mecca.
regret that shall not be able to
stop at Jeddah, the port for Mecca, to
which have already referred. 1t is
ono OF the most Interesting places on
the Red Sea, and 100000 or more pill
grims pass through it every year.
While at Omdurman few weeks ago
I saw something ike 400 Mohamme-
dams who were going by the new rail-
road across the Eubian Desert to Port
~ oh In
for Jeddah. Some of them had been ten
years on the way. and their religious
enthusiasm had not waned They start
ed out upon camels from the borders
OF Timbukto. and had been forced to
sell their camels for food. After that
they had walked from oasis to oasis,
working for money to carry them on
ward. In that party there were SO many
that the English government officials
had to divide them up into patches and
send on g. trainload or SO at q time
miles OF camel riding or walking. and
1t will probably be a great pilgrimage
route in the future.
At present the pilgrims come to Jed
dab from all parts OF North Africa and
from the Eastern coast OF the Medi-
terranean Sea. They also come from
India and Southern Arabia, and Jed
dab takes her toll from each OF them.
The people live by Fleeing the devc-
tees. The town Is full of hotels. and It
is noted for It's discomforts. 1t has a
bad water supply. and after each big
rain there is an epidemic OF fever. All
who land in Jeddah go on foot from
there to Mecca. The distance is sixty
five miles, and guide Is required.
The New Mecca Railroad.
>,a ~ Iol toll L. ~
building railroad from Jeddah TO
Mecca. If they do 1t will probably pay
well. for the travel is enormous
Twenty-f five years ago there We're more
than $4,000 Mohammedans, who came
annually by sea to make their way
over the sands to Mecca and Medina.
The sluatn is already building a
line southward from Damascus to
be fnsa ai Ssu Completed n and 0A It
Is expected that 1t will reach Medina In
1909 and Mecca early In 1910. There is
now line from Beirut to Damascus,
and one will be able to start in at that
port in the Western Mediterranean and
go to Damascus, Jerusalem and Mecca
without change OF cars. The Mecca
line Is being built by Turkish soldiers.
engineer. and the cost Is being in part
betrayed by the voluntary contributions
OF Mohammedans In all parts Of tho
world.
When these railroads are completed
there may be chance for Christians
to visit the holy city. All who have
been there in the past have had to go
In disguise. and the man who would at
tempt 1t to-day takes his life in his
hand. The railroad will be ofticered by
Mohammedans, and It is doubtful
1,,na% yyl1 70 NhrfSfianS
passengers. They will have to cater
to the pilgrims, as 1t is from them
that their traffic must come.
In the meantime. without wishing to
act as did the fox who called the
grapes sour, do not believe there Is
much to see In Mecca after all. The
town lies in a hot sandy valley watered
| for the most OF the year by few
brackish wells and some cisterns. The
best water comes in from Arafat
! through a little aqueduct, and IT IS
sold at high prices by a water trust. at
| the head Of which is the governor OF
the city.
Mecca, all told, has only about $4,000
inhabitants. IT fills the valley and
runs up the sides OF the hills. The
houses are Of dark stone. built In one,
two and three stories. They stand
close to the streets. There are no
pavements; 1t is often dusty, ana y
takes all the holiness OF the sur
roundings to make life agreea Die,
The Knnba.
The most important place In Mecca
lis the sacred mosque, and the most I'M
portant thing In the mosque Is the
Kaaba, @ ube-shaped stone building
which lies In It's centre. In the SOUTH
| east corner Of this building, at about
five feet from the ground, is the black
'meteorite which the Molammedans
say was once a. part of the gates OF
Paradise. When Adam was cast out
this stone fell with him, and y
dropped down near Mecca. At that
time 1t was Of a beautiful white color
but 1t Is now turned to lot, having
been blackened by the kisses Of sinners
Every pilgrim who comes to Mecca
presses his lips to 1t again and again
Imagining that as he does 30 his sins
go out OF him into the stone. and his
soul becomes as pure as 1T was wher
he was q baby, There are several hun-
bred thousand pilgrims who perform
this kissing act every season, SO that
Il the holy stone Of the Kaaba gets III
4 millions of kisses every year. That q
load Of sin 1t must carry is5
FRANK g, 9 AR PENT Err,