The Raymer enterprise., 1922-06-01

tPspArsa b. IL Naiieaal Geographic -
oisty. WashiAstsA D. CO.
Though the World war changed the
temporal map Of Arabia, raising the
narrow strip Of the Hejas, formerly
. Turkish province, into a kingdom,
It did not alter the place In the world
Of Mecca. chief Of the Hejaz cities.
That mystic city under Arab control
sti1 10 the center Of all Mohammedan
thought and action as It was under the
Turks
The importance Of Mecca is not due
to it, resident population Of perhaps
100000. but to the more than 100000
pilgrims who visit It each year from
every nation Of Islam. Statistics are
hopelessly contradictory and confus.
Ing regarding the number Of annua!
visitors. According to Turkish oificial
estimates, In 1907 there were no less
than 10000 pilgrims. 1t is a marvel
how 70 many thousands can find food,
shelter. and, most Of all, drink, In
such desert city.
The religious capital Of Islam, and
now the temporal capital Of the new
kingdom Of the Hejaz, affords an In.
dex to the growth and strength Of
Mohammedanism In various parts Of
the world, for one can rightly gauge
the strength Of religious fervor In this
sreat non-C Christian faith by the num-
Der Of those who 60 on pilgrimage.
From Java, Bengal, West Africa, Cape
Colony and Russia, as well as from the
most inaccessible provinces Of China,
they come every year and return to
their native land-if they escape the
hardships Of travel-to tell Of the
greatness and glory Of their faith.
however much they may have been
disappointed In the actual condition
Of the city and Its sacred buildings.
When we consider Mecca, Moham-
NEEDS words Of prophecy in the second
chapter Of his book seem to have been
literally fulfilled: $50 we have made
you the center Of the nations that you
should bear witness to men," The
old pagan pantheon has become the
religious sanctuary and the goal Of
universal pilgrimage for one-seventh Of
the human race.
From Sierra Leone to Canton, and
from Tobolsk to Cape Town. the faith
ful spread their prayer carpets, build
their houses lin fulnllment Of an i'm.
portant tradition. even their out.
houses y, and bury their dead orient
ed toward Mecca. II the old world
could be viewed from another planet,
ito details disclosed, the observer
would zee concentric circles Of living
worshipers covering an overwhelming
area, and one would also see vast
areas Of Moslem cemeteries with ev.
cry grave dug with Its main axis to.
ward the sacred city.
lts Mysteries Laid Bare.
Mecca ID no longer q yelled city. A
score Of intrepid travellers have un.
yelled L, From Bartema, Wild and
Joseph Pitts to Burton, Burckhardt,
Hurronje and Courtellemont, they
took their lives In their hands, herd.
ed with strange companions. under
went untold hardships. and by luck or
pluck came scatheless out Of this lions
den Of Islam. According to Doughty,
scarcely pilgrimage takes place with
out some persons being put to death
a. intruding Christians. An educated
and plous Moslem In Cairo admitted
recently that when be went on pilgrim
age and took pictures Of the city his
life was endangered more than once
By the fanaticism Of the inhabitants
However, there are many who believe
that the establishment Of the new
kingdom will mean the removal of re-
strictions against non-Moslems.
The mixture Of races brought about
IN Hejas province for 20 many cen.
turtles By the pilgrimages has not been
conducive to morals or good govern.
ment. No one who has read the &C.
count Of social life at Mecca, a. given
By Hurgronje and other travellers. In
Guiding Moslem pilgrims themselves.
can doubt the need for social reform
In that city. Mecca Is the microcosm
Of Islam In Its religious life and a.
pirations. According to Hurgronje:
ut ID Islam, the oficial religion. which
bring together and amalgamates all
the heterogeneous constituents Of Nee.
can life. On the other hand, this 20.
clsty itself YIELDS into Q chaotic whole
the prejudices and superstitions Of all
ceuntyies." In other words Mecca ID
ths sink.hole Of islam. All witnesses
asFee - to the fragrant immortality
which psrvades the streets, and svso
ths mosque, Of the sacred ,dty, the
prevalsncs It the slave tradA ~