Sect. IV. The Preliminary Difcourfe. 115
next this door is the black fione, of which I (hall take notice by and by.
On the north fide of the Caaba, within a femicircular enclol'ure fifty
cubits long, lies the white Jlone, faid to be the fepulchre of Ifmael,
which receives the rain-water that falls off the Caaba by a fpout,
formerly of wood % but now of gold. The Caaba has a double roof,
fupported within by three octangular pillars o f aloes wood,; between
which, on a bar of iron, hang fome filver lamps. The out-fide is
covered with rich black damafk, adorned with an embroidered band
of gold, which is changed every year, and was formerly fent by the
Khalifs, afterwards by the Soltdns of Egypt, and is now provided by
the Turkifh emperors. At a fmall diftance from the Caaba, on the
eaft fide, is the Jlation ox place of Abraham, where is another ftone
much refpected by the Mohammedans, o f which fomething will -be
faid hereafter.
The Caaba, at fome diitance, is furrounded, but not intirely, by
a circular inclofure of pillars joined towards the bottom by a low
balultrade, and towards the top by bars of filver. Juft without this
inner inclofure, on the fouth, north, and weft fides of the Caaba,
are three buildings, which are the oratories or places where three
of the orthodox feCts aflemble to perform their devotions, (the fourth
fedt, viz. that of al Shafei, making ufe o f the ftation of Abraham
for that purpofe;) and towards the fouth eaft Hand the edifice which
covers the well Zemzem, the treafury, and the cupola o f al Abbas z.
All thefe buildings are enclofed, at a confiderable diftance, by a
magnificent piazza, or fquare colonnade, like that of the Royal Exchange
in London, but much larger, covered with fmall domes or cupola’s ;
from the four corners whereof rife as many Minarets or fteeples, with
double galleries, and adorned with gilded fpires and crefcents, as are
the cupola’s which cover the piazza and the other buildings. Between
the pillars of both inclofures hang a great number of lamps, which
are conftantly lighted at night. The firft foundations of this outward
inclofure were laid by Omar, the fecond Khallf, who built no
more than a low wall, to prevent the court of the Caaba, which
hefore lay open, from being encroached on by private buildings; but
the ftrudture has been fince raifed, by the liberality of many fuc-
ceeding princes and great men, to its prefent luftre 3.
This is properly all that is called the temple, but -the whole territory
of Mecca being alfo Hardm or facrtd, there is a third enclo-
1 Sharif al Edrifi, ibid» a Idem, ibid. 3 Poc. Spec. p. n6*
q 2 lure