'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎600] (693/905)

600
the mesjid en' ne'by.
[chap. xxiii.
walk a few paces wide between it and the screen. 1 On the
accession of a sultan, or when decayed, the curtain is replaced
from Constantinople, and the old one sent thither, to cover the
tombs of the deceased sultans and princes. Above the curtain
appears a flat dome, surmounted by a globe and crescent.
Treasure be- Round these tombs are the remains of the treasure belong-
mofue t0 the ing to the mosque, which previous to the plunder of the city
by the Wahhabis, probably amounted to the value of 300,000
dollars. It was partly kept in boxes and partly suspended by
silken ropes. It consisted of a brilliant diamond star suspended
immediately above the Prophet's tomb, and various vessels set
with jewels; also ear-rings, bracelets, necklaces, and other
ornaments, which had been sent as presents from all parts of
the empire : 2 but notwithstanding this loss the harim is very
rich, having property and annuities in almost every part of the
sultan's dominions. 3
History of the The mosque was originally a small chapel, surrounded by
mosqiie. muc [ walls, which were erected after the flight of Muhammed
from Mekkah. 'Omar Ibn Khatab afterwards widened the
mosque, and surrounded it anew with mud walls; the latter
were replaced by walls of stone in a. h. 29, by Othman and
other princes, who successively enlarged the building : a fire,
caused by lightning, destroyed it in a. h. 866, and 26 years
subsequently it was rebuilt nearly as it now stands, by Kaid
Beg, king of Egypt.
Road to Mek- The road from Medina towards Mekkah, after traversing
some rocky ridges south-westward of the former city, gradually
descends from the higher plateau, which is nearly on a level
with that of Nedjd ; and after passing for seven hours through
a succession of rocky valleys, full of winter torrents and thorny
trees, it arrives at the plain of Fereysh. From hence it passes
the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -es-Shohada, and afterwards the more extensive valley
of El Nazye, which is ten miles long and six miles broad ; it
is thickly covered with acacia-trees, and bordered by ranges of
hills, partly composed of granite and partly of limestone. 4
From hence a wide valley leads to the pass of Jedeyde and
1 Burckhardt's Travels in Arabia, vol. II., pp. 166, 167.
2 Ibid., pp. 169, 170. 8 Ibid., p. 199. 4 Ibid., p. 132.