Sherif Ghaleb Erected Upon The Hill, On Both Sides Of
The Narrow Road, Which Is Formed In Rude Steps, (Whether Natural Or
Artificial, It Would Be Difficult To Say,) Two Watch-Towers, Similar To
Those Already Described.
On both sides of the causeway, in the valley of
Mekka, extend the burying-grounds, where most of the inhabitants of the
city have their family tombs.
A little beyond the Sherif's house just mentioned, and at the
termi-nation of the Mala, stands the tomb of Abou Taleb, an uncle of
Mo-hammed, and father of Aly. The Wahabys reduced the building which
covered the tomb to a mere heap of rubbish; and Mohammed Aly Pasha has
not thought fit to rebuild it. Abou Taleb is the great patron of the
city; and there are many persons at Mekka who, though they would have
little scruple in breaking an oath taken before God, yet would be afraid
of invoking the name of Abou Taleb in confirmation of a falsehood. "I
swear by the Mosque" - "I swear by the Kaaba," are ejaculations constantly
used by the Mekkawys to impose upon strangers; but to swear by Abou
Taleb is a more serious imprecation, and is seldom heard upon such
occasions. Opposite to the ruined tomb stands a public fountain,
consisting of a trough built of stone, fifty or sixty feet in length,
which is daily filled with water from the aqueduct. Near it grow a few
trees.
No buildings are seen beyond the fountain, till we come to a large
palace of the Sherif, which is surrounded by high walls flanked with
towers, and contains within the inclosure a spacious court-yard.
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