2. ReUffiom Caravane, — Soeh companies of pilgrims pass regolarly along the roote (hence termed the Haj) to Mecca, Ibor each year; one fh>m Cauro, consisting of Barbars, a second of Tnrks from Damascns, a third of Persians fh>m Babylon, and the fbnrth of the Ara- bians and Indians from Zibith, at the month of the Bed Sea. They are under the strictest discipline, a chief or haJA being in command, and five officers liav- mg respectively charge of the march, the halt, the servants and ciittle, the baggage, and the commissa^ fiat The hgbeer^ or gnide, is also an indispensable co.npanion— a person not only well acquainted with the route, the wells, the hostile or friendly tribes, and other featores on the route, but also skilled in the signs of the weather, and an individual of general sagacity and fidelity. See Pilgrim.
These large travelling masses Olnstra^ many fea- tores of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. They, too, had their leader, Moses, and were divided into twelve companies, each with its chief (Num. vii), and ranged under its distinctive banner (Num. ii, 2). They set out in tumult (Exod. xii, 11), but were soon reduced to almost military order, starting at the blast of trumpets (Num. x, 2, 5), under the guide of the fiery pillar (q. v.). Hence, too, the anxiety of Moses to se- cure the services of Hobab (q. v.) as guide. See Ex-
ODE.
The processions of Israelites to their national festi- viU at Jerasalem were probably made up very much after the earmran style, villages and acquaintances travelling together by companies. Hence the youth- ful Saviour was not missed untfl the party halted at night (Luke ii, 44) at a place which tradition fixes shoot three miles from Jerusalem (Munro, Summer Wmhte^ i, 265) ; for the first day's journey is always a short one. — Kitto, s. v. See Cabavansebai.
CaravanBerai, the Arabic name of a building for the accommodation of strangers in sequestered places, while Jb&oii is the usual designation of a similar stmo- tsre situated in or near towns. See Khan.
In Uie days of the earlier patriarchs there seems to have been no snch provision for travellers, for we find Abraham looking out for their entertainment (Geu. xxiH), and the visitors of Lot proposed to lodge in the street, apparently as a matter of course (Gen. xix, 2), just as modem Orientals often do, wrapped in their hykes, although in Arab towns generally the ttianger is conducted by the sheik to the meiuU, where he is provided for the night (La Roqne, De la Palee- tm€f p. 124. In Egypt, however, there seems to have been some such building (Qen. xlii, 27), probably only a rude shed. The innkeepers in that country were j usndly women (Herod, ii, 88), just as in the days of I As Hebrew spies (Josh, ii, 1) ; apparently women of mgy virtue (Heb. xi, 81 ; James ii, 25), if not abso- IMj eoorteeans. See Hablot. In the times of (Ust and his apostles, inns must have been common I It Fdsstiiie, yet the frequent injunction contained in the Spirtles to entertain strangers (e. g. Heb. xiii, 2 ; Ron. xfi, 8) show that they were very inadequate in thflor arrangements. See HospitALirr. They are owBtioned in the N. T. under two names, vavSoxfioVf or house for the reception of all kinds of guests, where lb gsod Samaritan took the wounded stranger (Luke WifH^i probably a building like the modem comfort- Vw and nnftimished ones on the great Eastern routes flf tiavel, with a host (or Janitor), however, who, on vgent occaskms, will frimish supplies to the sick and
destitute. The other word is coroXv/ui, properly the upper room reserved in large houses for guests (Blark xiv, 14; Luke xxii, 11), and also applied to the place where the nativity occurred (Luke ii, 7). The tradi- tion connects this event with a cave (Justhi Martyr, Died, c. Trgph, p. 808 ; Origen, eon^. Ceb.), and the spot, as such, is still pointed out. See Bbthuehek. But this is opposed to all the circumstances and usages of the case. The exact distinction between this and the previous term has been matter of dispute, but the edit> or of the Pictorial Bible (note in loc) suggests the most probable explanation, that the stable, in the retirement of which Mary brought forth the Saviour, was one of the stalls running idong the outside of the building, behind the apartments destined for the guests; and that the " manger** (q. v.), or ^arvri, was not the crib or contrivance for this purpose known to us (for such are not used in the East), but simply the projection of the floor of the guest-room into the cattle-shed, which was probably lower on the ground (see Strong's Hoar" wumjf and Expos, qftke GotpeU, p. 14). See Imw.
^SoAmcr^
Hodffm Oriental CaravanseraL
Oriental "inns,** whether called khans or caravan- serais, are not at all comparable, in point of comfort and convenience, with modem hotel accommodations, nor have they the least resemblance to the character and appurtenances of a respectable tavern. A khan is always to be found in the neighborhood of a town ; and caravanserais, of various sizes and degrees of com- pleteness, are generally disposed at regular stages along public roads, especially the mercantile and pilgrim thorougfafarM, according to the character of the coun- try. They have usually been built by rich merchants for trading purposes, or by wealthy devotees as an act of religious munificence. At a distance they resem- ble a castellated fort, but on k nearer approach are fSound to be a simple quadrangular building, enclosed by a high wall, usually about 100 yards on each side, and about 20 feet high, resting on a stone foundation. In the middle of the front there is a large arched en- trance, with a porter*s lodge on one or both sides, and apartments for the better dass over it, surmounted by a dome. The interior is an open space for cattle, bag- gage, etc, with a well or fountain in the middle. Along the sides of this inner court-yard are piazzas opening eveiy few yards into arched recesses or al- coves for travellers, having an inner door communi- cating with a small oblong chamber, sometimes light- ed at the fitfther end, but entirely destitute of furni- ture, shelves, or closets. These cells are intended for dormitories, but travellers usually prefer the open door-way, which is either paved or level and hard earth, and raised two or throe feet above the general area of the court. These sets of rooms have no commu- nication with each other, but in the middle of the three sides there is a large hall for general assemblages ; at the end of each side is a staircase for ascending to the flat roof for enjoying the breeze and the landscape. These lodging -chambers are thus usually on the ground-floor ; but in the fow buildings which have two stories, the lower rooms are used for servants, storage, etc., while the upper story serves for the trav- ellers themselves. Somethnes also the porter*s lodge aflbrds a supply of commodities for their use, and cooks are occasionally found in attendance. Gener- ally, however, the accommodations are of the most wretched description— bare walls, rooms filled with dirt and vermin, and no cooking apparatus to be ob- tained for love or money. The traveller must do all his own work, and even furnish his own subsistence. His baggage must supply his bed, his dothing must