The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-02-02

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety, Washington. ID. CO
Though the World war changed the
temporal map of Arabia, raising the
narrow strip of the Hejaz, formerly
a Turkish province, into a kingdom,
1t did not alter the place in the world
of Mecca, chief of the Hejaz cities.
That mystic city under Arab control
still is the center of all Mohammedan
thought and action as it was under the
Turks.
The Importance of Mecca Is not due
to It's 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 annual
visitors. According to Turkish official
estimates, In 1907 there were no less
than $4,000 pilgrims. 1t is a marvel
how so many thousands can find food,
shelter, AID, most of all, drink, in
such a desert city.
The religious capital of Islam, and
" biV iCihDOAoi Nupildi VI III c"
kingdom of the Hejaz, affords al. In
deX to the growth and strength OF
Mohammedanism in various parts of
the world, for n can rightly gauge
the strength of religious fervor in this
great nOn-Christian faith by the mum
Der of those who go on pilgrimage.
From Java, Bengal. West Africa, Cape
! GnlnnN, aud D.,cci., NO ,x.aIl -. e.o.. &hn
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-
med's 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 nuOluD race.
From Sierra Leone to Canton, and
from Tobolsk to Cape Town, the faith
full spread their PRAYER carpets, build
their houses Tin fulfillment OF an i'm
portant tradition, even their out
houses y, and bury their dead orient
ed toward Mecca. IL the old world
could be viewed from another planet,
Its details disclosed, the observer
would see %concentric circles Of living
w~orshipers covering IN 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.
Its Mysteries Laid Bare.
Mecca is no longer a yelled city. A
score Of intrepid travellers have un-
yelled 1t. From Bartema. Wild and
Joseph Pitts 70 Burton, Burckhardt,
Hargronje and Courtellemont, they
took their lives in their hands, herd
ed with strange companions, under
went untold hardships, n by luck or
pluck came scatheless N of this lions
den Of Islam. According to Doughty,
scarcely a pilgrimage takes place with
out some persons being put to death
as ~intruding Christians. An educated
and pious Moslem in Cairo admitted
recently that when he 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 NEAR the removal Of re-
strictions against non-Moslems.
The mixture of races brought about
in Hejas province for so many CEN
turtles b.. the pilgrimages has not been
conducive to morals nr good govern
ment. No one who has read the ac-
count of social life al Mecca, as 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
II Islam In its religious life ara as
nirations. According to Hurgronje:
1T Is Islam. the official religion. which
brings together and amalgamates all
the heterogeneous constituents of Nee
can life. On the other hand. this So
ciety itself YIELDS into y chaotic whole
the %prejudices and superstitions Of all
countries" In other words. Mecca is
he sink-hole of Islam AL witt esses
agree as to the fagrant immortality
which perrades the streets. and even
he noso.e. or the sacred citv, the
,revaler>s of the slave trade. the