ON METEORITES, OE CELESTIAL STONES 87
was
inserted in the threshold of the main entrance to the royal palace
there. From a balcony directly above the entrance was suspended a piece
of tapestry taken from that in the Kaaba, and it was so hung that its
lower border was about on a level with the face of anyone entering the
portal. All who passed in were strictly enjoined to touch their eyes
with this tapestry and also to kiss the piece of the Black Stone, upon
which no one was permitted to tread. These details are given in
Khondemir's life of Abu Jafer Al Mostasem, the last of the Khalifs, who
died in 1258 a.D.81
The
Kaaba at Mecca offers to the adoration of faithful Mohammedan pilgrims
to the shrine, not only the famous Black Stone, which is set in the
eastern corner of the building, but also another sacred stone inserted
in the southern corner at a height of five feet from the ground. This
is designated as the "Southern Stone." The Kaaba itself is a small
rectangular structure, built of stone from the surrounding hills, and
having a length of 12 metres (39.4 feet), a width of 10 metres (32.8
feet) and a height of 15 metres (49.2 feet). One of the few Europeans
who have been permitted to enter the sacred enclosure, Dr.
Snouck-Hurgronje, does not believe that the Kaaba owes its origin and
sanctity to the Black Stone, but that its foundation was rather due to
the presence of the well Zemzem, whose waters were already reported to
have a therapeutic quality in the early days of Islam, and which may
have earned its repute on this account. If, however, we admit that the
medical properties (of a purgative nature) are due to contamination or
percolation posterior to the primitive time when the well Zemzem first
attracted the reverence of the Arabs of this region, then the purity of
the water may account for its
"Giovanni B. Rampolli, "Annali Musulmani,'' vol. vili, Milano, 1824, p. 589, note 104.
