Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-10
MECCA PILGRIMS
HALTED BY EGYPT
Refusal to Let Medical Mis-
sion Go Along Cause of Un-
precedented Action.

The surprising action OF the gov
ernment Of Egypt, Mohammedan
country, in stopping almost at their
goal thousands of its citizens on pill
grimage TO Mecca draws attention 10
this annual religious event. which "a,
tracts vast crowds Of men and women
from all parts of the world. says ..
bulletin from the National Geogra pho
Society.
AS all roads led to great and splen-
! did Rome two mil'cnriums ago now
| they lead to the rather tawdry cap
tai of the Hedjaz, ser down in a bare,
dusty. trimmed valley Of vest
\ ern Arabia. More than 200, 900
people cherish the hope-and indeed.
feel II 10 be their solemn religious
| duty-to travel at least once the
dusty road 10 the holy center of their
! faith. Probably 100000 of them
| make the trip annually, about one
| half at one time during the period of
! the hadj, or great pilgrimage IN
/ the last month Of the Mohammedan
year. 1t is this great pilgrimage
! that has been in progress during July.
Cairo Caravan Important.
| Though pilgrims on the hadi de-
scend upon Mecca from every quarter
| of the globe, they converge into SOM
! half dozen large caravans along as
many routes For centuries the 'WO
| PRINCIPAL groups have been those
| from Damascus and Cairo. In soma
ways the latter has been the more
! important. because ii has carried the
black brocade. a gift from the faith
| fIl in Egypt, which is renewed ca1h
square, hut-like kaaba. Islams no T.
est shrine: The recalling Of the
| Egyptian caravan from Jidda. the
! port of Mecca. because the King OF
cal mission to accompany the pill
grims has many potentialities and
may even mean that the square stone
| house to which all Mohammedan
prayers are directed may have 10 put
| up with its old covering for another
! season.
The fact that the presence OF
medical mission was the cause Of
! trouble at Jidda emphasizes a Cond!-
| ton that aroused European interest
years ago and caused steps TO he
[ taken TO prevent MecCa's becoming
! menace to the rest of the world. PHI
grims from dozens Of countries and
| thousands OF communities. many 10
J doubt harboring the germs Of dange--
! Gus diseases. congregate in city III
| equipped to care for them, and dur
! ing portion of the religious ohserv
| a7ces occupy crowded camps in lit
! tie desert valley absolutely devoid ~
| SANITARY arrangements
4
| There was always likelihood that
pilgrims returning from such sur
roundings would carry with them cpl
! demic diseases, especially cholera. 70
eastern Europe and TO European colo
MES in North Africa and Asia An in
| ternational conference called to con
slider the matter in Paris in 1894 ar
ranged for the inspection OF pilgrims
at ports of departure. detention when
necessary. and supervision of pilgrim
4 - ting nd
The thousands of pilgrims who
ireach Mecca over the several routes
| 10 take part in the annual had1 OBJ
tservanCes go through with ceremonies
that seem rather trifiing to western
ers. Before reaching Mecca they pre-
pare for what might very literally be
! called the exercises" by bathing re-
lpeatedly and DOMINIC the ceremonial
] garb-two pieces Of seamless cloth
wrapped about them in a prescribed
way
| On reaching the holy city they 60
| to the black -draped kaaba, kiss the
"olack stone" set in its wall. and then
circle the structure seven times. three
/ times running and four times walk
| ing. They must next run up and
down some nearby sacred hills. On
ganother day the pilgrims take half
days journey TO Mount Arafat. where
the most important feature OF the
ceremonies is observed. They must
stand on the little hill throughout
the afternoon and repeat prayers and
texts. The following day they re-
turn toward Mecca. but stop al the
Village of Nina to sacrifice sheep.
goat or camel. A very important part
Of the observance at Nina is the cas-
Ing Of seven stones al each OF several
cairns.
Hon0red on Return Home.
The pilgrims may then shave ard
cut their nails. for the prescribed
ceremonies of the pilgrimage are At
an end. The desire Of a lifetime has
been fulfilled. The devotee who has
survived sickness fatigue and rob
| hers en- route and nsanitary cond!-
tons in the city and camps is now
| considered to be as sinless as when
he was born.
| IF he successfully withs;ands the
hardships of the return journey -
lappears among his coreligionis:s
wearing the special green turban
(which proclaims that he has jour
neyed to the sacred shrine. He bears
the honorable title "hadji." "he who
has performed the hadt," and is look
ed up to and envied by all Mos!eus
who have not yet made the journey
to the holy city.