of the fucceeding month (Zee-al-Hidjee) the prefcribed ceremonies commence.
T h e pilgrims now lay afide all other drefs or ornaments, and
affume the humble habit of Ihrdm, which confifts only of two colourlefs
woollen cloths, and a kind of fandals, defending the foies of the feet, but
leaving all the reft bare. It is from this time, and during the remainder
of their ftay in the holy territory, that the devotees bear the title o f
Mohrim. ' Whilft engaged in this pious work, a Mohrim is required to
keep the ftricteft guard upon all his actions, and to refrain from contention,
anger, and every indulgence of his carnal appetites. He is alfo
inhibited from hunting or fowling even beyond the prefcribed limits; not
being allowed to deftroy any thing for fubfiftence except fifh . He is
moreover under a variety of other inhibitions, which may be traced in the
courfe of this work. For many centuries the- greateft potentates were
proud to fubmit themfelves to thefe reftriCtions, and to fink, for a time,
to a level with their fellow creatures.— It may not, however, be improper
to obferve, that for fome time paft, and particularly within the prefent
century, the K'dba has fuftained a falling off both in the rank and number
of its votaries. Whether this defection arifes from the advancement
of knowledge, or (as is moft probable) from the rapid decay which the
great Mujfulman empires have experienced within that period, it certainly
denotes a revolution in the minds or habits of the Mohammedans, which
is perhaps only a prelude to the extinction of IJlamifm.— T h e firft chapter
of the book of Pilgrimage treats'of thofe upon whom it is indifpenfably
incumbent that they once in their lives vifit the Kaba-, namely, upon
every MuJJulman who is fane, adult, free, in perfeCt health, and poffeffed
of the means for performing a journey, fuch as a camel, a horfe, a fer-
vant, and a maintenance fufficient for thofe and himfelf during the pilgrimage,
and for the fupport of his family until his return. No perfon
is, however, required to crofs the fea for this purpofe.— This duty is as
much enjoined upon women as upon men ; but they are dire&ed to perform
it under the protection of fome male relation within the prohibited
degree^. T h e focond chapter relates .to the various ceremonies of the
Ihrdm, and the reftridions to which a Mohrim is fubjeCted, as already
mentioned.— T h e third chapter relates to the different names and defcriptions
tions of pilgrimage, according as the ceremonies o f it are performed
alone, or in company with others; and alfo, the vifitations performed
within any other than the facred months.— T h e fourth chapter treats of
the reftriCtions to which a pilgrim is fubjeCt during his refidence within
the “ holy territory,” and the offences which, from difregard of thefe,
he is liable to commit; with the atonement required for each offence.
In this chapter are alfo fet forth the reftriCtions impofed upon pilgrims,
and the indulgences allowed to them with refpeCt to their wives or Haves,
as well as the penalties impofed in, cafe of infringement. A number of
mere petty offences are likewife mentioned, for which atonements of
a trifling nature are required, fuch as bellowing a day’s fubfiftence upon
one pauper, or (in cafes o f omiflion) repeating any particular part of the
ceremonies. T h e remainder of thik- chapter relates to the inhibitions
with refpeCt to killing game, or feeding cattle within the holy territory,
in either of which cafes fatisfaCtion muft be made to the Chief of M ec ca.
— T h e fifth and fixth chapters relate to points o f mere form.— T h e fe-
venth concerns thofe who may be impeded in their pilgrimage by either
ficknefs or an enemy ;— in which cafe, it is requifite that the perfon
fo prevented fend a goat or other victim (by the hands of fome trufty
deputy) to be facrificed at the temple; or elfe, that he fend the value in
money, with which the deputy may purchafe an animal at Mecca for
that purpofe;— and until this ceremony be performed he is not releafed
from the reftriCtions of a pilgrim.— T h e fixth chapter treats of the time
at which the feafon of pilgrimage expires,— namely, on the Td Kirban,
or feftival of facrifice, when, if the pilgrim have not gone through the
whole of the ceremonies, all that he has done is of no account; and the
pilgrimage muft be performed again on fome enfuing year.— T h e feventh
chapter relates to the performance o f pilgrimage on behalf of another perfon,
which is lawful and valid for three different defcriptions of people,
namely, the dead, (who have bequeathed a fum for this purpofe,) per-
fons prevented by diftance, ficknefs, or an enemy, or perfons who, having
already performed the ordained pilgrimage, procure another to perform
it again on their account, either from motives o f piety, to expiate an offence,
or to fulfil a vow. This kind of fubflitutive pilgrimage became indifpenfh
2 ably