Page 56 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 1,2

RELIGION 27

inratively small proportion goes on later to Medina, cither overland,
ov In* the ; halt-sea ’ route from JUldah to Yambo . These usually

return to Yambo'. t . ,
The passage of pilgrims is the occasion of much trade, and mer­
chants swell the caravans. It also leads to trouble with the Bedouins,
and*thus to constant unrest ; and it is a great cause of the spread of

epidemic disease. .
The Pilgrimage accounts in normal times for an annual influx
of nearly half n million persons into Hejaz. All \ isit Mecca, but
only about a third go to Medina also, the visit to the hcircim of the
latter city not'being strictly part of the Pilgrimage at all, and
involving considerable extra expense as well as some risk owing to
the insecurity of all lines of caravan communication with Mecca.
Not all, however, arrive, at once for the season of the great Pilgrim­
age* (hajj). Besides the possibility of making a minor pilgrimage
('oirpah) at any time of the year, many pilgrims are induced to arrive
at Mecca before the end of Ramadan, i. e. more than two months
before the great feast of the Moslem year (Yaum en-Nahr = Qurban
JBniram), which marks the Hajj season ; for by remaining till
the feast-and performing ‘omrah, &c., they accomplish tamattu
{, — ‘ possession ’), and enhance their merit. But owing to the cost of
life at Mecca this act of supererogation is for either the very rich,
or the very poor who live on charity during their stay.
The Plejazis have developed a regular organization for maintaining
and increasing the supply of pilgrims, as well as'for exploiting them
on arrival. In the early months of the year their agents are busy
in all parts of the Moslem world, preaching the necessity of pilgrim­
age, and offering (on commission) to arrange the journey, provide
for lodging in Hejaz, and see the pilgrims through the obligatory
ceremonies. When the time comes, some of these agents personally
conduct parties or rich individuals to Hejaz, while at the ports
« . or places of arrival, ciceroni (mutav'wifin) await unaccompanied
; mmm
pilgrims, or such parties as are too large for their conductors.
These ciceroni are organized under sheikhs, represent different
Islamic countries, and wear a special dress of bright colours and
a straw cap. Since they speak various languages, and many of
them are travelled men, they offer, with the consular and customs
agents, the main obstacle which non-Moslems in disguise, or foreign
Moslems desirous to conceal their identity, have to face if they wish
to perform the Hajj. They are all prepared to place the pilgrim,
according, to his nationality, in lodgings belonging either to them­
selves or others, Mecca, in particular, containing houses and apart­
ments much in excess of the needs of its permanent inhabitants.