"كُتيّب الحجاز" [و‎‎٥‎٣] (٢٠٤/١١٤)

of caravan communication with Mecca. Not all, however
arrive at once for the season of the great pilgrimage {hdjj)[
Besides the possibility of making a minor pilgrimage {umrah),
at any time of the year, many pilgrims are induced to arrive
at. Mecca before the end of Ramadan, i.e. more than two
months before the great feast of the Moslem year (Yum en-
Nahr=Qurban Bairam), which marks the H4jj season ; for
by remaining till the feast and performing umrah, etc., daily,
they accomplish tamatti (=possession), and enhance their
merit. But owing to the cost of life at Mecca, this act of
supererogation is for either the very rich or the very poor,
who live on charity during their stay.
The Hejazis have developed a regular organization for
maintaining and increasing the supply of pilgrims, as well
as for exploiting them on arrival. In the early months of
the year their agents are busy in all parts of the Moslem
world, preaching the necessity of pilgrimage, and offering (on
commission) to arrange the journey, provide for lodging in
Hejaz, and see the pilgrims through the obligatory ceremo
nies. V* hen the time comes, some of these agents personally
conduct parties or rich individuals to Hejaz, while at the
ports or places of arrival, ciceroni (metawwa firi) await unac
companied pilgrims, or such parties as are too large for
their conductors. These ciceroni are organized under sheikhs,
represent different Islamic countries, and wear a special
dress of bright colours and a straw cap. Since they speak
various languages, and many of them are travelled men,
they offer, with the consular and customs agents, the main
obstacle which non-Moslems in disguise, or foreign Moslems
desirous to conceal their identity, have to face if they wish
to perform the Hajj. They are all prepared to place the
pilgrim, according to his nationality, in lodgings belonging
either to themselves or others, Mecca in particular containing
louses and apartments much in excess of the needs of its
permanent inhabitants. Medina, owing to its more exclusive
population and its smaller number of visitors, offers greater
risks than Mecca, and its metawwqfin are more difficult to
evade.