was placed seven feet above the ground. Amzi informed him that the
temple might be entered only at certain times, but that it contained an
image of Abraham holding in its hand some arrows without heads; also a
similar statue of Ishmael likewise with divining arrows, and lesser
images of prophets and angels amounting almost to the number of three
hundred.

Passing round the temple to the north-eastern corner, Yusuf looked
curiously at the Black Stone, which was set in the wall at a few spans
from the ground, and which seemed to be black with yellowish specks in
it.[6] Many people were pressing forward to kiss it, while many more
were drinking and laving themselves with water from a well a few paces
distant,--the well Zem-Zem,--believing that in so doing their sins were
washed off in the water.

"This," said Amzi, pointing to the spring, "is said to be the well which
gushed up to give drink to our forefather Ishmael and Hagar his mother,
when they had gone into the wilderness to die."

Yusuf sighed heavily. Such empty ceremony had no longer any attraction
for him, and he turned his eyes towards the mountain Abu Kubays,
towering dark and gloomy above the town, its black crest touched with a
silvery radiance by the light of the stars shining brilliantly above.

Was this, then, the Caaba? Was this what he had fondly hoped would fill
his heart's longing? Was there any food in this empty ceremonial for a
hungering soul? Why, oh why did the truth ever elude him, flitting like
an ignis-fatuus with phantom light through a dark and blackened
wilderness!