The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-03-29
Journey to Mecca.

To this holy city OF Islam, Mecca
every good MosIeln should make at
least one pilgrimage during his life
time. lie must arrange his affairs so
that his family will be taken care of In
his absence and the money he uses
for his 1ourney.it is stipulated in his
religion, must have been obtained by
lawful means.
"The more devout OF Moslems usual
~ transact no business either along
the way or after arrival at Mecca. al
though the rules which prescribe con-
duct on this devout errand do not for
bid such a thing. There are, however.
many Of the pilgrims who must CONF
bfne religion with business, otherwise
they could never find means to ac-
complish the Journey. These. 1t would
seem. have always been in the major
ity, for Mecca itself has, besides its
religious standing. a location as an
important commercial center.
Surrounded by Haram.
Mecca Is surrounded by a great
area of uncultIvated land, called tho
haran1. or sacred territory, where not
even date palms grow. and the city Is
said by historians to have been found
ed to carry on trade with Abyssinia
in winter and Syria in summer. It's
bazaars at pilgrimage time are filed
with the finest products OF the East
and a single one of its caravans has
represented an investment Of as much
as 100000. One Of the principal in
dustrles there. I'm recent years ut least.
however, seems to have been that OF
renting lodgings at exorbitant rates to
devout pilgrims and other wise eS-
plotting them until the pious stranger
has been stripped of his goods and
amazed by the wlckedness and vice
of his holy city,
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 alfred he
proceeds to the city and after the end
Of his devotions begins the return
journey with the honorary title OF
hail. which is conferred upon all who
have made the pilgrimage.
Great Mosque.
"1n the center Of Mecca Is located
the great mosque which is really not
much moro than great columned wall
with seven n1inarets and Is built
around the most sacred relies. Inside
this wall is called the harem, or sacred
spot. and there stands the Ka'ba, the
holy Of holes 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 Ma
homet, who threw out its idols and
made of It the sacred place OF Islam.
Many times 1t has been destroyed by
fire and food but 1t has always been
rebuilt approximately in the original
design. The Kafba has no windows
and It's door is several feet above the
surrounding level, entrance being eff
tected by means of portable steps. In
side, its walls are covered with silver
the gift Of wealthy MahomIne dans, Its
door Is a mosaic Of variculnred mar.
blea and Its calling Is hung with silks
OF woudr0ls hue and texture. Outside
much OF the time its walls are covered
with rich brocada. on the borders Of
which Is embroidered In gold thread
quotations from the Koran.
In the wall Of the Ka'ha. near Ia
'southeast corner and at a convenient
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