DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.10357#0465
DAMASCUS.
427
head of Syria " (Isaiah vii. 8), yet one of the finest and most remarkable sights in the East is
that of the Haj, or pilgrims, collecting in the plain outside of the city, and forming in a long
procession, bound for the tomb of the Prophet. Three days south of Damascus—at a place
called Mazarib, where water and grass are abundant—a halt is made, and the caravan
reorganized. The holiday part of the pilgrimage ends here, since those who go on from this
point must address themselves to the real hardships and dangers of the desert. The journey
GRAND COLONNADE, PALMYRA, FROM THE TRIUMPHAL
ARCH.
Showing the syenite columns of the Tetrapylon ; the prostrate one is
thirty feet long and three feet in diameter. In the distance the
ancient city wall, known as the Wall of Justinian, can be traced.
occupies no less than twenty-seven days, and
is attended with many hardships. When
the roads are bad, owing to heavy rains,
many of the animals die, and the pilgrims
themselves suffer. At intervals, alone the
route, garrisons are stationed to prevent the caravans from being plundered, and to render such
other aid as may be required. As the pilgrims are not only devout men, but are interested
in trade as well, they carry with them many rich articles, and bring back, on their return,
merchandise of various kinds, together with a considerable number of female slaves. Hence,
peculiar temptations to plunder are offered to the wild Arabs, which they resist only through
fear of the Turkish troops, or because of a contract made beforehand, in which they receive
large presents, that they will not molest either the persons or property of these " holy men."
427
head of Syria " (Isaiah vii. 8), yet one of the finest and most remarkable sights in the East is
that of the Haj, or pilgrims, collecting in the plain outside of the city, and forming in a long
procession, bound for the tomb of the Prophet. Three days south of Damascus—at a place
called Mazarib, where water and grass are abundant—a halt is made, and the caravan
reorganized. The holiday part of the pilgrimage ends here, since those who go on from this
point must address themselves to the real hardships and dangers of the desert. The journey
GRAND COLONNADE, PALMYRA, FROM THE TRIUMPHAL
ARCH.
Showing the syenite columns of the Tetrapylon ; the prostrate one is
thirty feet long and three feet in diameter. In the distance the
ancient city wall, known as the Wall of Justinian, can be traced.
occupies no less than twenty-seven days, and
is attended with many hardships. When
the roads are bad, owing to heavy rains,
many of the animals die, and the pilgrims
themselves suffer. At intervals, alone the
route, garrisons are stationed to prevent the caravans from being plundered, and to render such
other aid as may be required. As the pilgrims are not only devout men, but are interested
in trade as well, they carry with them many rich articles, and bring back, on their return,
merchandise of various kinds, together with a considerable number of female slaves. Hence,
peculiar temptations to plunder are offered to the wild Arabs, which they resist only through
fear of the Turkish troops, or because of a contract made beforehand, in which they receive
large presents, that they will not molest either the persons or property of these " holy men."