DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4996#0192
MR. LANE'S ACCOUNT. 159
still more singular one: an old woman, with head uncovered, and
only wearing a shirt. She was called " Umm-el-Kutat," or the
mother of the cats, having always five or six cats sitting about her
on her camel.
The journey from Cairo to Mecca is long and arduous, and
occupies thirty-seven days,* and the route is, for the most part,
desert. " The route of the Egyptian caravan is far more dangerous
and fatiguing than that of the Syrian ; the road along the shore of
the Red Sea leading through the territories of wild and warlike
tribes of Bedouins, who frequently endeavour to cut off a part of the
caravan by open force." The caravan travels slowly but steadily ;
the time for halting and departing being marked by the sound of
the cannon. Komeh, who was himself a Hadji, had contrived, in a
rough way, to furnish me with an account of the details and priva-
tions of his pilgrimage, some of which were painful enough: tbey
agreed exactly with Mr. Lane's account. " It is not merely by the
visit to Mecca, and the performance of the ceremonies of compassing
the Kaabeh seven times, and kissing the ' black stone' in each round,
and other rites in the Holy City, that the Muslim acquires the title
of ' El-hagg,' (or the pilgrim) : the final object of the pilgrimage
is Mount Arafat, six hours journey from Mecca, It is necessary
that the pilgrim be present on the occasion of a Khutbeh, which
is recited on Mount Arafat, in the afternoon of the 9th of the
month of Zu-1-Heggeh. In the ensuing evening, after sunset, the
pilgrims commence their return to Mecca." This was described
to me as a most exciting and splendid scene. Burckhardt gives an
interesting account of it in his journey to Mecca and Medina,
" Halting the following day in the valley of Mina (or, as it is more
commonly called, Muna,) they complete the ceremonies of the pil-
grimage by a sacrifice, part of the flesh of which they eat, and part
give to the poor." " This is called El-fida, (the ransom,) as it is
performed in commemoration of the ransom of Is'mael (or Ishmael)
when he was about to be offered by his father Abraham ; for it is
Lane.
still more singular one: an old woman, with head uncovered, and
only wearing a shirt. She was called " Umm-el-Kutat," or the
mother of the cats, having always five or six cats sitting about her
on her camel.
The journey from Cairo to Mecca is long and arduous, and
occupies thirty-seven days,* and the route is, for the most part,
desert. " The route of the Egyptian caravan is far more dangerous
and fatiguing than that of the Syrian ; the road along the shore of
the Red Sea leading through the territories of wild and warlike
tribes of Bedouins, who frequently endeavour to cut off a part of the
caravan by open force." The caravan travels slowly but steadily ;
the time for halting and departing being marked by the sound of
the cannon. Komeh, who was himself a Hadji, had contrived, in a
rough way, to furnish me with an account of the details and priva-
tions of his pilgrimage, some of which were painful enough: tbey
agreed exactly with Mr. Lane's account. " It is not merely by the
visit to Mecca, and the performance of the ceremonies of compassing
the Kaabeh seven times, and kissing the ' black stone' in each round,
and other rites in the Holy City, that the Muslim acquires the title
of ' El-hagg,' (or the pilgrim) : the final object of the pilgrimage
is Mount Arafat, six hours journey from Mecca, It is necessary
that the pilgrim be present on the occasion of a Khutbeh, which
is recited on Mount Arafat, in the afternoon of the 9th of the
month of Zu-1-Heggeh. In the ensuing evening, after sunset, the
pilgrims commence their return to Mecca." This was described
to me as a most exciting and splendid scene. Burckhardt gives an
interesting account of it in his journey to Mecca and Medina,
" Halting the following day in the valley of Mina (or, as it is more
commonly called, Muna,) they complete the ceremonies of the pil-
grimage by a sacrifice, part of the flesh of which they eat, and part
give to the poor." " This is called El-fida, (the ransom,) as it is
performed in commemoration of the ransom of Is'mael (or Ishmael)
when he was about to be offered by his father Abraham ; for it is
Lane.