TRADITIONAL TOMB OF MOTHER EVE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7450, 26 May 1911, Page 9

TRADITIONAL TOMB OF MOTHER EVE

The tomb of Eve, the mother of the human race, is located, according to tradition. not far from the burial place of Mobaroired. on the Arabian coast of the Ited' Sca. Every vear. as the sacred season of the Hcjaz comes around, hundreds of

thousands of devout Mohammedans disembark at tho little harbour of Jidda li intent on a pilgrimage to Mecca, ton journey across the Fed Sea from bua- 1 kim to the shrine venerated by Christian and! Islamite alike—the legendary tomb of the first woman. . Tho country presents a very sterile appearance, there being hut little vegetation. A few date palms are dotted about, and away . to the west, m the direction of Mecca, groups of stunted acacia trees render the prospect lesa barren. The approach to the tomb m np a sandy slope, rising about tv o iinDdretl feet above tho town. Tho grave itself is one hundred and sixty 'feet long and five feet wide and is surrounded by a stone wall four feet high, covered with chunom. In the centre of it rises a small dome-crowned, mosque, wherein pilgrims assemble to say their prayers. The mosque is iu charge of some dervishes, who have plenty to do in keeping it clear of the crowds' of beggars who assemble andi clamour for backsheesh. 1 ■ Inside the mosque is perfectly mam, except that in tho centre is erected nit altar. This stands about three feet high, and is covered with curtains. The curtains being drawn aside, disclose a black stone let into the floor. This stone is supposed to he directly over the tomb of Eve, and is-polished like marble bv the kisses of faithful. It is by no moans permitted to every pilgrim to place his lips on this sacred spot, but by a liberal amount or backsheesh and the presence oi the consolar kavasses , you arc permitted the honour, and, accordingly, the curtain is drawn, and on hands and knees you pav homage to our legendary mother. The stone -which .is treated. with so much honour is a very curious one, evidently meteoric, and is supposed, like the Kaaba at Mecca, to have been specially sent down from heaven for ita P A S rocenTvisitor had a, long chat with 1 the custodian of the tomb, who toldhim that the office had been in the family for generations, lie said that the most regular; visitors to the shrine are the Bedouins, who, in their Yearly wanderings through the .Arabian desert, rarely fail to visit Eve's tomb. X asked him if there was any legend as_to wny Eve was supposed to be buried there, but he knew none, and asked; "Where else would she be buried except on this sacred soil?" . „