The Hajj at the turn of the century

Fischer, Léonard. Pèlerinage de La Mecque.

€ 1,800.00

A scarce copy of a French abbot's detailed account of the 1906/07 Hajj, including notes on Chinese and Indian pilgrims, based on his seven years living among Muslims in Istanbul and his own travels in the region.

Léonard Fischer was evidently fascinated by what he could witness of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca (from Istanbul he would have seen the yearly festive preparations for each round of departures to Mecca), and perhaps even more so by the staggering statistics and logistical challenges implicated in such a journey.

Fischer's description of Chinese Muslims on pilgrimage is particularly notable, in that accounts of pilgrimages undertaken by Chinese Muslims are fairly rare; he also lists other prestigious pilgrims on the '06/'07 Hajj and estimates that 300,000 Muslims would be arriving in Mecca. From this number he breaks down the statistics of pilgrims by nationality, describes the rites of pilgrimage, the role of women, the cost of a Hajj journey, and the logistics of sanitation. Though as a non-Muslim Fischer could not and does not appear disposed to visit Mecca himself, he is nevertheless equally detailed in his treatment of life in that city for residents and pilgrims alike, including the businesses associated with the Hajj.

Only four copies held in institutions worldwide.