Page 180 - Arabian Studies (I)

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164 Arabian Studies I
(e) Shadd al-Mahmil. Me was in charge of the Mali mil during the
journey. His main duty was to clear the way along the route for
the camel carrying the Mahmil, and particularly in the narrow
passes among the crowd of camels in the caravan.
(/) Al-Muqaddamun \aid Jimdl al-Nafar. They were the masters of
the camel drivers in the train of the Amir al-IIdjj. The words jimdl
al-nafar or al-nafr signify, according to JazTrl, a particular breed of
large camels, which the Amir al-Hajj used for the transport of his
supplies and equipment. 1 I 4
JazTrl mentions one, Qanbar, as having been the last Muqaddam
employed in the Egyptian pilgrimage under the Circassian
Mamluks.1 1 s Among the officials of the caravan who received
robes of honour on the day of the procession of the Mahmil in
Shawwal, during Mamluk times, QalqashandT mentions Al-
Muqaddamun,, but gives no information as to the nature of their
offices in the caravan. 1 1 6
According to Al-JazTrT, thq Muqaddamun were employed in the
caravan to contract with the camel owners for the transport of the
Mahmil and the Kiswah, their attendants and equipment, the
troops and personal attendants of the Amir al-Hajj. They had also
to supervise the camel drivers and watch over the loading and
! unloading of the camels during the caravan’s halt at the stations
| along the route.
(g) Muqaddam al-Da\vlyah wa’l-Ghashshamah. He supervised the
torch bearers (Daxvlyah or MaslmiHyah and the prison guards
(or, as they are called by JazTrl, Ghashshamah) in the train of the
Amir al-Hajj. Among the duties of the Dawlyah and Ghashsha-
mah was the gathering of firewood by the road for the kitchen
:.i and for use as torches in the caravan. In the time of JazTrl there
were twenty-four torches officially used in the caravan; five were
oil torches, while the rest were of wood.
Among the followers of this Muqaddam were the Sayyaf
(executioner) and the Mubayyit. The duties of the latter were to
announce to the pilgrims the instructions of the Amir al-Hajj and
to make regular announcements during the night, when the
caravan stopped at the stations along the route, giving the pilgrims
information on the general situation of the station and whether it
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had any protection, urging them to take extra precautions for
their camels and personal property.
{h) Muqaddam al-Hajjanah wa-'l-Sha'arah. He was in charge of the
saddles, bridles, caparisons etc. for the camels in the stable of the
Amir al-Hajj. He also supervised the men in charge of the fodder
and the camels which transported it.
(/) Mihtar al-Tashtkhanah. According to JazTrT, the office of this