The Maḥmil procession in Cairo

The Maḥmil (colloquially pronounced maḥmal) is an empty litter, with a pyramidal top covered with embroidered brocade and decorated with ornaments of gold or silver and jewels, which was sent annually from Cairo, to accompany the pilgrim caravan to Mecca and back. Similar Maḥmils have been sent from other countries at various times, but that from Egypt has always held the place of honour. The procession here described was the first of three annual processions of the Maḥmil, about the middle of Rajab, afterwards held a month later, and discontinued after the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in 1517. The main ceremony, still observed, was in the month of Shawwāl, on the departure of the pilgrim caravan.

وهو يوم دوران الجمل، يوم مشهود وكيفية ترتيبهم فيه أنه يَرْكَب فيه القضاة الأربعة ووكيل بيت المال والمحتسب، وقد ذكرنا جميعهم، ويركب معهم أعلام الفقهاء وأمناء الرؤساء وأرباب الدولة، ويقصدون جميعًا باب القلعة دار الملك الناصر، فيخرج إليهم المحمل على جَمَل، وأمامه الأمير المعين لسفر الحجاز في تلك السنة ومعه عسكره، والسقاءون على جمالهم، ويجتمع لذلك أصناف الناس من رجال ونساء، ثم يطوفون بالمحمل، وجميع مَنْ ذَكَرْنا معه بمدينتي القاهرة ومصر والحُداة يَحْدُون أمامهم، ويكون ذلك في رجب، فعند ذلك تهيج العزمات وتنبعث الأشواق وتتحرك البواعث، ويلقي الله العزيمة على الحج في قَلْب من يشاء من عباده، فيأخذون في التأهب لذلك والاستعداد [ص. ٣٤]

The day of the Maḥmil at Cairo. This is the day of the procession of the Maḥmil round [the city], a festival day. Their ceremonial on this day is as follows. The four Grand Qāḍīs, the Intendant of the Treasury, and the Muḥtasib (all of whom we have mentioned above) are mounted, and along with them ride the principal jurists, the syndics of the heads of corporations, and the officers of state. They all proceed together to the gate of the citadel, the residence of al-Malik al-Nāṣir, whereupon the maḥmil comes out to meet them, borne on a camel, and preceded by the amīr who has been designated for the journey to the Ḥijāz in that year. With him are his troops and a number of water-carriers mounted on their camels. All classes of the population, both men and women, assemble for this ceremony, then they go in procession with the maḥmil round the two cities of al-Qāhira and Miṣr [al-Fusṭāṭ], accompanied by all those whom we have mentioned, and with the camel-drivers [ḥuddā, lit. 'incitators'] singing [yaḥdūna, lit. they incite] to their camels in the lead. This takes place in Rajab, and thereupon resolves are inflamed, desires are excited, and impulses are stirred up, and God Most High casts into the heart of whom He will of His servants the determination to set out upon the Pilgrimage, so they start to equip themselves and to make preparations for it.

58-59

1326 circa