The Greater Part Of The Beggars Are Indians,
Others Syrians, Moggrebyns, And Egyptians:
The Negroes are but few, as
these generally prefer labour to begging; but a large proportion comes
from Yemen.
It is generally said in the East, that Mekka is the paradise
of beggars: some perhaps may save a little money, but the wretched
aspect of others plainly shows how much their expectations must have
been disappointed. The Indians are the most modest among them; they
accost the passenger with the words "Ya allah'ya kerim!" "O God, O
bounteous God!" and if alms are refused, they walk away, without a word
except the repetition of "Ya allah, ya kerim." Not so the Yemeny or
Mekkawy; "Think of your duty as a pilgrim," he cries; "God does not like
the cold-hearted; will you reject the blessings of the faithful? Give,
and it shall be given unto thee; and with these and many other pious
sentences they address the passenger, and when they have the alms safe
in their hand, they often say, as my delyl did, "It is God, and not you,
who gives it to me." Some of these beggars are extremely importunate,
and seem to ask for alms as if they were legally entitled to it. While I
was at Djidda, a Yemen beggar mounted the minaret daily, after mid-day
prayer, and exclaimed loud enough to be heard through the whole bazar,
"I ask from God fifty dollars, a suit of clothes, and a copy of the
Koran; O faithful, hear me, I ask of you fifty dollars," &c. &c. This he
repeated for several weeks, when at last a Turkish pilgrim, struck by
the singularity of the beggar's appeal, desired him to take thirty
dollars, and discontinue his cries, which reflected shame upon the
charity of all the hadjys present.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 294 of 669
Words from 80055 to 80360
of 182297
