ns, and then find Mecca, which is in Arabia,
close to the Red Sea, you will understand that the making of this
pilgrimage is no easy thing to many of the Moslems, and that it must have
a most serious meaning to them to make them undertake such terrible
journeys.

These people must save a great deal of money, and have much difficulty in
arranging their affairs, so that they can afford the time to make the
journey, which their religion says must be made on foot wherever it is
possible.

Forbidding the pilgrimage for one year means the disappointing of seventy
thousand people, and it is thought that the Moslems may rebel against the
Sultan's decree.

Even if they thought that the pilgrimage might spread the fearful plague,
and kill the millions of people who do not believe in the prophet
Mohammed, they would persist in going, thinking they would in that way be
doing a great work for their religion.

The Sultan has therefore this very difficult matter to deal with, and
while Europe is wondering what to do with him, he is showing that after
all he has a great deal of courage and common sense.

The pilgrimage is made to Mecca to perform there certain religious rites,
but particularly to visit the Great Mosque, or Temple, to pass around the
Kaaba, and to kiss the sacred Black Stone.

The Kaaba is the most sacred shrine or altar of the Mohammedans. It was in
existence before Mohammed was born, in 570 A.D., and was a place of
worship even then.

In one corner of it is the sacred stone, which the Moslems believe was
brought down from heaven by the angel Gabriel, and given by him to Abraham
to make the corner-stone of the Kaaba.

They believe that the stone was originally a ruby, but that the tears
which the pilgrims have shed over it for their sins have turned it quite
black.

The sacred black stone was broken in the year 683, and the pieces are
kept together by a silver setting. The stone itself is about eight inches
long, and is set into the outside wall of the Kaaba, where it can be
conveniently kissed by a person of medium height.

Mohammedans always turn toward a certain point of the compass when they
say their prayers, and it is toward the sacred black stone that they turn.

The gathering together of the pilgrims at Mecca has often brought plague,
and nearly always brings disease in its train, and there is very little
doubt but that the Bubonic Plague, which is raging in India, would be
caught by the pilgrims,