MEDINA NEM, a city of Arabia, in the district of El Iledjaz, or the land of Pilgrimage, which compre hends the Arabia Pttrra of the Ancients, but beyolid the confines of the Beled el Haram, or holy land of Is lam, a territory that none, excepting Mahornetans, are allowed to enter. This city stands on a fertile spot, in a mountainous desert. The motnitains, which consti tute a prominent feature in the whole land of Pilgrim age, ate highest in its vicinity. 'Water is scarce through out the territory, being obtained from a few inconsidera ble springs and deep wells ; but here and at :Mecca the rain water is preserved by the inhabitants in cisterns, and the neighbouring gardens and plantations are sup plied plentifully with it. The tree yielding the real balsam of Mecca, which is called &lean, grows in the surrounding desert, though it is not obtained at Mecca itself.
Medi;ia is small, and surrounded by a slight wall, which seems to have been strengthened when the inha bitants were menaced by an army of sectaries a few years ago. It is a place of no importance, except from containing the sepulchre of Mahomet, the approach to which was always strictly interdicted to Jews and Chris tians ; but the inhabitants enjoy the privilege of exemp tion front the impost paid to the scheriff of Mecca, the natural lord of the country, and the tenth exacted by 'the sectaries now alluded to. The Turkish emperor claims the sovereignty of ,Medina and the neighbouring territo ry, and had two officers in the city ; but the scheriff of Mecca, enjoying an independent power, held the real supremacy, and had a vizir in Medina.
The tomb of Mehemet is inclosed by an iron grating within the precincts of a mosque of indifferent structure, and is surrounded by a rich brocade in letters of gold, on a green ground, the colour of the faithful. Neither the tomb nor the mosque are distinguished by any magnifi cence; but an immense treasure had accumulated for ages, the pearls and precious stones in which exceeded all estimation. Near to the tomb is seen an opening, which the Mahometans affirm is for the purpose of re ceiving Jesus Christ, as they believe he is yet to return, and die at Medina. Here also are the tombs of the Ca
liph Othman, and other friends or descendants of the pro phet ; and the chair or pulpit from which he was accus tomed to preach, is yet preserved with superstitious care, to be used at festivals. A fable was formerly prevalent, that the tomb was suspended in the air between two magnets, or without any visible support. Poncet, French physician, who designed visiting Medina about the year 1700, and travelled much in the East, declares that he visited a monastery of Abyssinia, for the purpose of seeing a similar phenomenon. There he beheld a round golden staff, about four feet long, suspended in the air ; and, to detect any artifice, he requested the ab bot to permit his examining more narrowly whether there was not some invisible prop or support. " For my bet ter assurance." says he, " and to take away all doubt, I passed my cane over it, and under it, and on all sides, and found that this staff of gold did truly hang of itself in the air." It is not improbable, therefore, that some deception was practised in suspending this celebrated se pulchre, which those who determine on accounting for every thing conceived was accomplished by magnets. The tomb was enclosed by the iron grating, and was al so guarded by 40 eunuchs, in consequence, it is common ly believed, of an attempt to carry off the bones of the prophet.
Medina and Mecca are two places of pilgrimage, re sorting to %% hich confers great distinction on the devout Mahoinctans ; but it appears that the latter is more fre quented. Nevertheless, a caravan annually repairs to Medina from Damascus, the principal purpose of which is to carry a rich carpet from the Turkish emperor for the tomb of the prophet. It travels under the direction of the paella of that city, as prince of the pilgrims, is guarded by troops and artillery, and accompanied by a great number of women.