'Personal Narrative of a pilgrimmage to Al-Madinah and Meccah. Vol. II' [‎382] (417/568)

382 Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah.
which are all tied one after the other, like as in teams. 1 1
The whole body is called a Caravan, which is divided 1
into several cottors, or companies, each of which hath I
its name, and consists, it may be, of several thousand ;
camels; and they move one cottor after another, like
distinct troops. In the head of each cottor is some great
gentleman or officer, who is carried in a thing like a
horse-litter, borne by two camels, one before and the
other behind, which is covered all over with sear-cloth,
and over that again with green broad cloth, and set forth
very handsomely. If the said great person hath a wife
with him, she is carried in another of the same. 2 In the
head of every cottor there goes, likewise, a sumpter camel
which carries his treasures, &c. This camel hath two
bells, about the bigness of our market-bells, having one
on each side, the sound of which may be heard a great
way off. Some other of the camels have round bells
about their necks, some about their legs, like those which
our carriers put about their fore-horses' necks; which
together with the servants (who belong to the camels,
and travel on foot) singing all night, make a pleasant
noise, and the journey passes away delightfully. They
say this musick make the camels brisk and lively. Thus
they travel, in good order every day, till they come to
Grand Cairo; and were it not for this order, you may guess
what confusion would be amongst such a vast multitude.
" They have lights by night (which is the chief time
of travelling, because of the exceeding heat of the sun by ■
day), which are carried on the tops of high poles, to direct
the Hagges on their march. 8 They are somewhat like
1 The usual way now is in " Kitar," or in Indian file, each camel s|
halter being tied to the tail of the beast that precedes him. Pit's i
"cottor" must be a kitar, but he uses the word in another of its
numerous senses.
2 This vehicle is the " Takht-rawan " of Arabia.
3 He describes the Mashals still in use. Lane has sketched j
them, Mod, Egypt, chap. vi.