Cottonwood chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1917-current, 1922-05-19

fleeing of pilgrims, and the corrup-
tion of the late Turkish government.
The post Office at Mecca, under
Turkish regime was certainly unique.
Sacks of letters were thrown out into
the narrow street leading to the post
Office, and there sorted by the pill
grims themselves, who opened them
and took their letters and those of
their friends also. A similar system
prevailed at Medina, Yenbo and Jid-
dab, King Husein Of HejaZ. how
ever, has taken steps to join the Inter
national Postal Union. and has had
stamps printed In Egypt bearing the
inscription "Hejaz Post"
Foreigners Handle Its Commerce.
The commerce of Mecca is entirely
in the hands of foreigners. mostly In
dams. who sell rosaries. carpets and
| silk stuffs. One of the main occupa-
lions OF the silversmiths Is the manu-
facture of rings, which are supposed
to be constructed from silver that
was once part of the sacred temple
doors, and are reputed to be an effec-
| tive remedy for certain Ills. Most of
| the natives, however earn their liv-
ing as guides to the pilgrims and
grow wealthy during the season.
Sacred Mosque and ka'aba.
The sacred mosque, Mesjid ell Ha-
ram with the Ka'aba as Its center
Is located In the middle of the city.
Mecca lies In hot, sandy valley, alb
solutely without verdure and surround
ed by rocky, barren hills, destitute Of
trees or even shrubs. The valley is
about 800 feet wide, and 1900 feet
long, and slopes toward the south.
The kaaba, or House of God (Belt
Allah). is located in the bed of the
valley. All the streets slope toward II
and II stands, as 1t were. in the pit
of theater.
The ka'aba proper stands In an OBJ
long space $50 PAGES long and 200
broad. surrounded by colonnades,
which are used as schools and as a
general meeting place for pilgrims
The outer Enclosure has 10 gates and
six mlnarets; within the Enclosure is
the well of Fem Fem, the great pulpit,
the staircase used to enter the Ka'aba
door, which is high above the ground,
and two small mosques called Ell Ku-
battain. The remainder of the space
Is occupied by pavements and grav-
ell, where prayers are said by the four
orthodox sects, each having its own
allotted space.
: In the southeast corner of the
? Ka'aba, about five feet from the
4 L. a..
/ the oldest treasure of Mecca. The
stone Is fragment resembling black
volcanic rock. sprinkled with reddish
crystals.
Arriving within a short distance of
, Mecca, orthodox pilgrims, male and
female, put OFF their ordinary clothing
4 and assume the hiram, which consists
of two pieces OF white cloth. one
!, tied around the loins and the other
thrown over the back. Sandals may
. be worn, but not shoes, and the head
= must be uncovered. After certain
q ablutions the pilgrim enters the
mosque, kisses the Black Stone, and
!. runs around the Kaaba seven times
h After special prayers he proceeds tC
a the place OF Abraham, then drinks from
A the holy well. and once more kisses
!. the Black Stone. After this follows
. the race between the two hills. Safs
O and Mirwa.
Little books of ritual prayers to bs
q used by the pilgrims are sold TO ev
~ eryOne, and there 10 great punctilious
a. ness I'm observing every detail correct
ly. on the seventh day of the pill
!, grlmage there is a sermon from the
!. grand pulpit. on the eighth day th'
n pilgrim goes to Nina, three miles dis
!. tant from Mecca. and spends the night
p The next morning he leaves for Ara
n fat, another hill short distance from
n. Mecca, and the following day Is th'
: great day OF sacrifice, simultapeousl.
m observed throughout the whole Mos
m lem world. Early In the morning tn
g. pilgrims go TO Nina, where they arr
three pillars, called the Great Devil
n the Middle pillar, and the First One
II Here each pilgrim filings seven peb
q. bles TO show his hatred of Satan ant
a. his love OF God. He then perform
lie the sacrifice OF sheep, goat or camel
II according 10 his means, the victim be
Ia ing placed toward the ka'aba and tn
ns knife plunged into the animals throa
" with the cry "Allahu Akbar." Thi
IN ceremony concludes the pilgrimag
ne proper and the pilgrim then begins hi
Ne Journey back home.