Meer Hassan Ali, B.: Observations on the Mussulmauns of India: descriptive of their manners, customs, habits, and religious opinions ; made during a twelve years residence in their immediate Society (Band 1) (London, 1832)

214 PLACE OF ABRAHAM.

" the circuits completed." It is recorded "that
the angel Gabriel brought this productive soil,
by God's command, and placed it at a conve-
nient distance from Mecca, in order that the
pilgrims and sojourners at the Holy House
might be benefited by the produce of the
earth, without having them sufficiently near
to call off their attention from the solemn duty
of worshipping their God, which they are ex-
pressly called upon to perform at Mecca.

My informant tells me that there is a stone
at Mecca known by the appellation of " Ibraa-
him Mukhaun," (Place of Abraham): on this
is seen the mark of a human foot, and believed
by pilgrims, on good authority, to be the very
stone on which Abraham rested his foot when
making occasional visits to his son Ishmael :
at the performance of this duty he never dis-
mounted from his camel, in compliance with his
sacred promise made to Sarah the mother of
Isaac.

The pilgrimage to Mecca is most securely
performed by those persons who travel in a
humble way; riches are sure to attract the