ceremony of the Hadj takes place, for which the whole assembly had come
hither. The pilgrims now pressed forward towards the mountain of Arafat,
and covered its sides from top to bottom. At the precise time of Aszer,
the preacher took his stand upon the platform on the mountain, and began
to address the multitude. This sermon, which lasts till sun-set,
constitutes the holy ceremony of the Hadj called Khotbet el Wakfe; and
no pilgrim, although he may have visited all the holy places of Mekka,
is entitled to the name of hadjy, unless he has been present on this
occasion. As Aszer approached, therefore, all the tents were struck,
every thing was packed up, the caravans began to load, and the pilgrims
belonging to them mounted their camels, and crowded round the mountain,
to be within sight of the preacher, which is sufficient, as the greater
part of the multitude is necessarily too distant to hear him. The two
pashas, with their whole cavalry drawn up in two squadrons behind them,
took their post in the rear of the deep lines of camels of the hadjys,
to which those of the people of the Hedjaz were also joined; and here
they waited in solemn and respectful silence the conclusion of the
sermon. Further removed from the preacher, was the Sherif Yahya, with
his small body of soldiers, distinguished by several green standards
carried before him. The two Mahmals, or holy camels, which carry on
their back the high structure that serves as the banner of their
respective caravans, made way with difficulty through the ranks of
camels that encircled the southern and eastern sides of the hill,
opposite to the preacher, and took their station, surrounded by their
guards, directly under the platform in front of him.[6]

The preacher, or Khatyb, who is usually the Kadhy of Mekka, was mounted
upon a finely caparisoned camel, which had been led up the steps; it
being traditionally said that Mohammed was always seated when he here
addressed his followers, a practice in which he was imitated by all