Meade County news., 1916-05-04
MOSLEM "HOLY CITY"
MECCA ONE OF THE WONDERS
OF THE WORLD.
Remarkable Spot to Which Every Mo-
hammedan Is Supposed to Make at
Least One Pilgrimage During
His Lifetime.

| Not far from where Arabian lands
now form battle-ground for Turk and
Briton stands the Mohammedan holy
city of Mecca, toward which turn
countless thousands of Moslems every
day at the time for prayer, says bull
Ietin of the National Geographic soci-
ETY..
Mecca, the native place of Mahomet,
is the principal city of the Turkish
vilayet of the Hejaz in Arabia and is
located few miles back from the
coast Of the Red sea, Jidda being its
seaport and the landing place Of near
ly all its pilgrims who come by sea.
Its population is difficult to determine
because of its great number of visitors
and at the height of the pilgrimage sea-
son tits usually much overcrowded.
To this holy city Of Islam, Mecca,
every good Moslem should make OF
least one pilgrimage during his life
time. He must arrange his affairs SO
that his family will be taken care Of
in his absence and the money he uses
for his journey, it is stipulated in his
religion, must have been obtained by
lawful means.
The more devout Of Moslems usually
transact no business either along the
way or after arrival at Mecca, although
the rules which prescribe conduct on
this devout errand do not forbid such
a thing. There are, however, many Of
the pilgrims who must combine reli-
gion with business, otherwise they
could never find means to accomplish
the journey. These, it would seem,
have always been in the majority, for
Mecca itself has, besides its religious
standing, a location as an important
commercial center.
Mecca is surrounded by great area
of uncultivated land, called the haram,
or sacred territory, where not even
date palms grow, and the city is said
by historians to have been founded to
carry on trade with Abyssinia in win
ter and Syria in summer. Its bazaars
at pilgrimage time are filled with the
finest products of the East and sim
gle one Of its caravans has represented
an investment of as much as 100000.
Arriving at the edge Of the haram,
the pilgrim changes his ordinary
clothes for the hiram, the ancient pill
grimage dress, consisting Of two cloths
wrapped around himself in a certain
prescribed manner. Thus attired he
proceeds to the city and after the end
Of his devotions begins the return jour-
ney with the honorary title of hail,
which is conferred upon all who have
made the pilgrimage.
In the center of Mecca is located the
great mosque which is really not much
more than great columned wall with
seven minarets and is built around the
most sacred relics. Inside this wall is
called the haram, or sacred spot, and
there stands the Ka'ba, the holy of
holies" of the Moslem, rude stone
building about forty feet square, the
original of which is said to have been
built by Abraham and his son Ishmael.
1t was the religious center of Mecca
long before the time of Mahomet, who
threw out its idols and made of 1t the
sacred place Of Islam. Many times it
has been destroyed by fire and flood,
but it has always been rebuilt approx
imately In the original design. The
Ka'ba has no windows and its door is
several feet above the surrounding
level, entrance being effected by means
Of portable steps. Inside its walls are
covered with silver, the gift of wealthy
Mahommedans, its floor is a mosaic of
varicolored marbles and its ceiling Is
hung with silks of wondrous hue and
texture. Outside, much of the time lis
walls are covered with rich brocade,
on the borders of which is embroidered
in gold thread quotations from the
Koran.
In the wall Of the Ka'ba, near its
southeast corner and at a convenient
height, is the famous black stone said
to have been given to Abraham by the
angel Gabriel. In performing the
tawaf, which is the custom of seven
times circuiting the Ka'ba, this great
stone is kissed by the pilgrims each
time it is passed.
Within the walls Of the mosque is
found what is supposed to be the tomb
Of Abraham and stone slabs mark
what Moslems believe to be the graves
of Hagar and Ishmael. All these are
holy spots and must be visited in max
ing the tawaf.
Among the other holy relics inside
the city is the famous Zamzam well.
said to have been used by Hagar in se-
curing water for her son, Ishmael. The
waters Of this well are supposed to
have wonderful curative values and a
brisk traffic is driven with the pilgrims
in the sale of jars and bottles for TAX
Ing away the water. The well is be-
lieved to have been lost after the days
Of Hagar and found later by the grand
father of the prophet. Mahomet.