Medina. When he was dying in the arms of Ayesha, Omar asked
him: "Prophet where do you wish us to bury you?" He answered: "Throw
the rein of the bridle on my camel's neck and I believe the angel
Gabriel will come and direct her where to go. There bury me." They did
so. His camel started off, but soon stopped and would not proceed
further. So they buried Mohammed there and a magnificent mosque stands
above his grave. This building is adorned with silver and gold and
Mohammedans worship it.

The second place is Mecca. This city is the most holy for all the
Mohammedan world. Here is the old temple of the Arabs the Kaaba which
was converted by Mohammed into a mosque. It has been rebuilt many times
by the rich kings of Islam. This mosque is among the seven wonders of
the world and is not inferior in beauty and cost' to Solomon's temple.
Outside at the gate is a black stone which the ancient Arabs worshiped
before Mohammed. Some said the stone was cast out of paradise with
Adam; others that it was cast down from heaven. Upon it Abraham offered
Isaac. The worshipers held a tradition that if anyone should place a
smooth stone on this holy stone and it should stick fast he should have
the wish of his heart. Many childless women use this means to find if
God will give them a child. Near the mosque is the well of Ab Zimzim,
_i.e._, living water. Mohammedans claim Abraham, Hagar and Jacob
quenched their thirst at this well. Jacob and other patriarchs, they
say, watered their sheep here. Many pilgrims have assured the writer
that the mosque of the Kaaba was originally built by the angel Gabriel.
There are two hundred million Moslems scattered throughout the world
and each of them turns his face toward this mosque and prays five times
daily.

The third place is Karballa. This city holds the second place in
sacredness in the estimation of the Mohammedans. It is situated in
Asiatic Turkey, near the famous city of Bagdad, where Saleek and
Katispon once flourished, ancient towns of the Christian Nestorians.
Here their patriarch dwells who ruled over all the Nestorian church.
After the death of Mohammed his four caliph successors overthrew these
places and took them from the Nestorians. Later a battle took place
here between these caliphs and the grandchildren of Mohammed to decide
which should be at the head of the new religion. The caliphs were
successful; the grandchildren being slain. They were buried here and
upon their graves was