George Sale, The Koran, commonly called the Alcoran of Mohammed, translated into English immediately from the original Arabic; with Explanatory Notes, taken from the most approved Commentators. To which is prefixed A Preliminary Discource (1734)

next this door is the black stone, of which I shall take notice by and by. On the north side of the Caaba, within a semicircular enclosure fifty cubits long, lies the white stone, said to be the sepulchre of Ismael, which receives the rain-water that falls off the Caaba by a spout, formerly of wood ¹, but now of gold. The Caaba has a double roof, supported within by three octangular pillars of aloes wood; between which, on a bar of iron, hang some silver lamps. The out-side is covered with rich black damask, adorned with an embroidered band of gold, which is changed every year, and was formerly sent by the Khalîfs, afterwards by the Soltâns of Egypt, and is now provided by the Turkish emperors. At a small distance from the Caaba, on the east side, is the station or place of Abraham, where is another stone much respected by the Mohammedans, of which something will be said hereafter.

The Caaba, at some distance, is surrounded, but not intirely, by a circular inclosure of pillars joined towards the bottom by a low balustrade, and towards the top by bars of silver. Just without this inner inclosure, on the south, north, and west sides of the Caaba, are three buildings, which are the oratories or places where three of the orthodox sects assemble to perform their devotions, (the fourth sect, viz. that of al Shâfeï, making use of the station of Abraham for that purpose ;) and towards the south east stand the edifice which covers the well Zemzem, the treasury, and the cupola of al Abbas ².

All these buildings are enclosed, at a considerable distance, by a magnificent piazza, or square colonnade, like that of the Royal Exchange in London, but much larger, covered with small domes or cupola’s; from the four corners whereof rise as many Minârets or steeples, with double galleries, and adorned with gilded spires and crescents, as are the cupola’s which cover the piazza and the other buildings. Between the pillars of both inclosures hang a great number of lamps, which are constantly lighted at night. The first foundations of this outward inclosure were laid by Omar, the second Khaliif, who built no more than a low wall, to prevent the court of the Caaba, which before lay open, from being encroached on by private buildings; but the structure has been since raised, by the liberality of ceeding princes and great men, to its present lustre ³.

This is properly all that is called the temple, but the whole territory of Mecca being also Harâm or sacred, there is a third