clothing which he had worn during the journey, and dresses himself in two new seamless wrappers, called iram or "the garb of holiness." One of these wrappers is fastened at the waist by a cord or belt, and the second one is thrown loosely over the first, hanging from the shoulders and leaving the head uncovered. The putting on of the "garb of holiness" places the Hadj pilgrim on a different plane from that of the other travelers who may be journeying his way, or meeting him in the desert. He is not permitted to either shave his head or any part of his body; he must not wash or anoint his hair; must not pare or trim his finger or toenails, and, finally, must not take off the iram, or exchange it for any other garment, during the days of his visit to Mecca.
Upon entering the city of Mecca, he first performs the religious ablutions, prescribed by the Koran; he then proceeds to the Sacred Mosque, where he kisses the "black stone." After the ceremony of saluting the mysterious stone in the wall of the Kaabah, he makes the circuit of the whole Kaabah seven times; three times at a trot or fast walk, and four times at a slow pace. As soon as he has completed the seventh circuit he proceeds to the "Place of Abraham" (Makham Ibrahim), makes his ceremonious prostrations, then returns to the Kaabah and kisses the Holy Black Stone once more.
The Hadj pilgrim now walks to a low hill outside the gates of Mecca, called Zafa, where formerly there stood an idol (Isaf) which was
