CAABA, a stone edifice in the temple of Mecca, which has been revered with superior sanctity by the Arabians, from the remotest antiquity ; and to which every Mahometan is required by the Koran to direct himself in prayer.
Among the variety of fabulous traditions which have been propagated by the followers of Mahomet, concern ing toe origin of this building, we find it asserted, that its existence is coeval with our first parents, and that it was built by Adam, after his expulsion from Paradise, from a representation of the celestial temple, which the Almighty let down from heaven in curtains of light, and placed in Mecca, perpendicular under the original. To this the patriarch was commanded to turn his face when he prayed, and to compass it by way of devotion, as the angels did the heavenly one. After the destruction of this temple by the deluge, it was rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ishmael on the same spot, and after the same model, according to directions which they received by revelation ; and since that time it has continued to be the object of veneration to Ishmael's descendants. Whatever discredit we may give to these, and other ravings of the Moslem impostor concerning the Caaba, its high anti quity cannot be disputed ; and the most probable account is, that it was built and used for religious purposes, by some of the early patriarchs ; and after the introduction of idols, it came to be appropriated to the reception of the Pagan divinities. Diodorus Siculus,* in his descrip tion of the coast of the Red Sea, mentions this temple as being, in his time, held in great veneration by all the Arabians ; and Pococket informs us, that the linen or silken veil, with which it is covered, was first offered by a pious king of the Hamyarites, seven hundred years be fore the time of Mahomet. It had been frequently re paired, and was rebuilt a few years after the birth of this prophet, by the tribe of Koreish, who had acquired the possession of it tither by fraud or violence from the Kho zaites. The Caaba then contained three hundred and sixty images of men, lions, eagles, ke. the objects of idolatrous w orship, which were all destroyed by Maho met, after the taking of when it was purified and adorned, and consecrated to the service of Islam. It re ceived several reparations after his death, and was re built by one of his successors, with some alterations, in the form in which it now stands.
As no European is permitted to visit Mecca, the only knowledge we have of the present appearance of the Caaba, is derived from the descriptions and draughts of the Mahometans, who indeed speak of it in terms of high admiration. it would appear, however, even from their designs, that it is an aukward and shapeless build ing. It consists of a sort of square tower, 24 cuhits by 23, and 27 high, covered on the top with rich black da mask, bordered with an embroidery of gold, which was formerly renewed every year by the Mahometan Ca liphs, afterwards by the sultans of Egypt, and which is now annually provided by the Ottoman Porte. The floor is
raised six feet from the ground ; and a door and window admit the light. Its double roof is supported by 0,, Le octagonal pillars of aloes wood, between which are sus pended several silver lamps; and the gutters on the top are made of pure goltl. At a small distance front this tower, on the east side, is the station of Abraham, where is a stone upon which the patriarch is supposed to have stood when he built the Caaba, and which, they pretend, still bears the traces of his footsteps. It is inclosed in an iron chest ; and here the sect of Al Shafei meet for reli gious purposes. On the north of the Caaba is the white stone within a semicircular enclosure, 50 cubits long, which is said to be the sepulchre of Ishmael, and which receives the rain-water that falls from the Caaba by a golden spout. This stone is of considerable antiquity, and was even held in great veneration by the Pagan Arabs. Towards the south-cast is the well Zem-zem, remarkable for the excellence and medicinal quality of its waters, as well as for its miraculous origin. It is affirmed to be the same spring, which, miraculously bursting out of the ground, supplied Ishmael and his mother Hagar, when overcome It ith thirst in the wilder ness of Beersheba; and is celebrated by the Mahome tans, not only for curing many bodily diseases, but also, if taken copiously, for healing all spiritual disorders, and procuring an absolute remission of sins. The well is protected by a dome or cupola, and its water is drank with much devotion by the pilgrims, and conveyed in bottles to the most distant quarters of the Mahometan dominions. But the most singular relic, and which is regarded with extreme veneration, is the famous black stone, which the Mahometans pretend was one of the precious stones of Paradise, and was brought down from heaven by the angel Gabriel. According to the receiv ed tradition, derived from Mahomet himself, it was ori ginally of such a bright white colour as to dazzle the eyes at the distance of four days journey, but that it wept so tong and so abundantly for the sins of mankind, that it became at length opaque, and at last absolutely black. When the Carmathians took Mecca, they pillaged the Caaba, and carried off the Mack stone in triumph to their capital. The Meccans made every- effort to recover it, both by entreaties and the offer of 5000 pieces of gold, but without effect. The Carmathians, however, after having kept it 22 years, sent it back of their own accord. It is now set in silver,and fixed in the south-east corner of the Caaba, looking towards Basra, about 31 feet from the ground. It is called by the Mahometans " the right hand of God," and is kissed by the pilgrims with great devotion.