And The Vice-Consul
At Jeddah Would Only Do His Duty In Peremptorily Forbidding European
Travellers To Attempt Meccah Without Disguise, Until The Day Comes When
Such Steps Can Be Taken In The Certainty Of Not Causing A Mishap;
[P.241] an accident would not redound to our reputation, as we could
not in justice revenge it.[FN#19]
On the 14th Zu’l Hijjah we started to perform the rite of Umrah, or
Little Pilgrimage. After performing ablution, and resuming the Ihram
with the usual ceremonies, I set out, accompanied by the boy Mohammed
and his brother Abdullah. Mounting asses which resembled mules in size
and speed,[FN#20] we rode to the Harim, and prayed there. Again
remounting, we issued through the Bab al-Safa towards the open country
north-east of the city. The way was crowded with pilgrims, on foot as
well as mounted, and their loud Labbayk distinguished those engaged in
the Umrah rite from the many whose business was with the camp of the
Damascus Caravan. At about half a mile from the city we passed on the
left a huge heap of stones, where my companions stood and cursed. This
grim-looking cairn is popularly believed to note the place of the well
where Abu Lahab laid an ambuscade for the Prophet. This wicked uncle
stationed there a slave, with orders to throw headlong into the pit the
first person who
[p.242] approached him, and privily persuaded his nephew to visit the
spot at night:
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 305 of 630
Words from 82290 to 82542
of 175520
