|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 6
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, and spread by them over the whole of Asia and
Europe.
This plague is supposed to attack only the dirty and unwashed, and as the
majority of these pilgrims are filthy beyond description, it would be
certain to fasten upon them.
This will be the first year, since the death of the prophet Mohammed, that
there has been no general pilgrimage to Mecca.
We may hear a great deal more about it yet.
* * * * *
At last active measures are about being taken in reference to the terrible
Dead Man's Curve.
Some weeks ago, it was said that it was to be done away with, and the cars
run through a tunnel made under Union Square.
Nothing, however, has so far been done, and the people are getting tired
of risking their lives, to oblige a cable car company.
At last the officers of the law have interfered, and the owners of the
road are being prosecuted, for having their cars run in such a manner
that it is a danger to citizens.
The president of the company was called before the Grand Jury, and said
that it was impossible to run the cars around that curve in any other way
than that which is in use at the present time.
Several engineers who understood all about cable cars were then called.
They said that if the company would put a short cable on the stretch of
road around the curve, there need be no more danger. They said that a
gripman could stop his car or slow up on a short cable, but that with the
long cable, such as the company is now using, it is impossible for the
gripman to have any control of his car while rounding the curve.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|