Every year, on the first day of the Great Festival, which immediately follows the pilgrimage, a new covering is hung upon the Kaabeh. The old one is cut up; and the greater part of it is sold to the pilgrims. Footnote 388: It has been said, by a traveller, that this is only done at pilgrims’ houses: but such is not the case, at least in Egypt. Footnote 389: A sequin of this description is termed “benduk′ee musháhrah.” Footnote 391: The more approved záïrgehs are extremely complicated, and the process of consulting them involves intricate astrological calculations. Footnote 392: This superstition, however, was condemned by the Prophet. ---------------------------- CHAPTER XII. MAGIC, ASTROLOGY, AND ALCHEMY. If we might believe some stories which are commonly related in Egypt, it would appear that, in modern days, there have been, in this country, magicians not less skilful than Pharaoh’s “wise men and sorcerers” of whom we read in the Bible. The more intelligent of the Muslims distinguish two kinds of magic, which they term “Er-Roohánee” (_vulgò_, “Rowhánee”) and “Es-Seemiya:” the former is _spiritual_ magic, which is believed to effect its wonders by the agency of angels and genii, and by the mysterious virtues of certain names of God, and other supernatural means: the latter is _natural_ and _deceptive_ magic; and its chief agents, the less credulous Muslims believe to be certain perfumes and drugs, which affect the vision and imagination nearly in the same manner as opium: this drug, indeed, is supposed by some persons to be employed in the operations of the latter branch of magic.