ABRAHAM, one of the most celebrated writers in the 17th century, with respect to the astonishing number of pieces composed by him. His chief work is the continuation of Baronius's annals. He was a native of Poland, and a Dominican friar. Upon his coming to Rome, he was received with open arms by the Pope, and had an apartment assigned him in the Vatican. He merited that reception, for he has imitated Baronius to admiration in his design of making all things conspire to the despotic power and glory of the papal see. He died in 1630, aged 70. C, THE third letter, and second consonant, of the alphabet, is pronounced like k before the vowels a, o, and u; and like c before e, i, and y. C is formed, according to Scaliger, from the z of the Greeks, by retrenching the stem or upright line; though others derive it from the z of the Hebrews, which has in effect the same form; allowing only for this, that the Hebrews reading backwards, and the Latins, &c. forwards, each have turned the letter their own way. However the C not being the same as to found with the Hebrew caph, and it being certain the Romans did not borrow their letters immediately from the Hebrews or other orientals, but from the Greeks, the derivation from the Greek z, is the more probable. Add, that F. Montfaucon, in his Palæographia, gives us some forms of the Greek z which come very near to that of our C; thus, for instance, ζ; and Suidas calls the C the Roman kappa. The second found of C resembles that of the Greek Ξ; and many instances occur of ancient inscriptions, in which Ξ has the same form with our C. All grammarians agree, that the Romans pronounced their Q like our C, and their C like our K. F. Mabillon adds, that Charles the Great was the first who wrote his name with a C; whereas all his predecessors of the same name wrote it with a K; and the same difference is observed in their coins.

As an abbreviation, C stands for Caius, Carolus, Caesar, condemnno, &c. and CC for confutibus.

As a numeral, C signifies 100, CC 200, &c.

C, in Music, placed after the clef, intimates that the music is in common time, which is either quick or slow, as it is joined with allegro, or adagio: if alone, it is usually adagio. If the C be crossed or turned, the first requires the air to be played quick, and the last very quick.

CAABA; or CAABAH, properly signifies a square stone building: but is particularly applied by the Mahometans to the temple at Mecca, built as they pretend, by Abraham and Ishmael his son.

Before the time of Mahomet, this temple was a place of worship for the idolatrous Arabs, and is said to have contained no less than 360 different images, equalling in number the days of the Arabian year. They were all destroyed by Mahomet, who sanctified the Caaba, and appointed it to be the chief place of worship for all true believers. The temple is in length from north to south about 24 cubits; its breadth from east to west is 23, and its height 27. The door, which is on the east side, stands about four cubits from the ground; the floor being level with the bottom of the door. In the corner next this door is the black stone, so much celebrated among the Mahometans. On the north side of the Caaba, within a semicircular enclosure 50 cubits long, lies the white stone, said to be the sepulchre of Ishmael, which receives the rain water from the Caaba by a spout formerly of wood, but now of gold. The black stone, according to the Mahometans, was brought down from heaven by Gabriel at the creation of the world, and was originally of a white colour; but contracted the blackness that now appears on it from the guilt of those sins committed by the sons of men. It is set in silver, and fixed in the south-east corner of the Caaba, looking towards Bafra, about seven spans from the ground. This stone, upon which there is the figure of a human head, is held in the highest estimation among the Arabs; all the pilgrims killing it with great devotion, and some even calling it the right hand of God. Its blackness, which is only superficial, is probably owing to the kisses and touches of so many people. After the Karmatians had taken Mecca, they carried away this precious stone, and could by no means be prevailed upon to restore it; but finding at last that they were unable to prevent the concourse of pilgrims to Mecca, they sent it back of their own accord, after having kept it 22 years.

The double roof of the Caaba is supported within by three octagonal pillars of aloes wood; between which, on a bar of iron, hang some silver lamps. The outside is covered with rich black damask, adorned with an embroidered band of gold, which is changed every year, and was formerly sent by the caliphs, afterwards by the sultans of Egypt, and is now provided by the Turkish emperors. The Caaba, at some distance, is almost surrounded by a circular enclosure of pillars, joined towards the bottom by a low balustrade, and towards the top by bars of silver. Just without this inner enclosure, 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 assembled to perform their devotions. Towards the south-east stands an edifice which covers the well Zamzem, the treasury, and the cupola of Al Abbas. Formerly there was another cupola, that went under the name of the hemicycle or cupola of Judea; but whether or not any remains of that are now to be seen is unknown; nor is it easy to obtain information in this respect, all Christians being denied access to this holy place. At a small distance from the Caaba, on the east side, is the flat or place of Abraham; where is another stone much respected by the Mahometans; and where they pretend to show the footsteps of the patriarch, telling us he stood on it when he built the Caaba. Here the fourth feet of Arabs, viz. that of Al Shafei, assemble for religious purposes.

The square colonnade, or great piazza, which at a considerable distance encloses these buildings, consists, according to Al Jannabi, of 488 pillars, and has no less than 38 gates. Mr Sale compares this piazza to that of the Royal Exchange at London, but allows it to be much larger. It is covered with small domes or cupolas, from the four corners of which rise as many minarets or steeples, with double galleries, and adorned with gilded spires and crescents after the Turkish manner, as are also the cupolas which cover the piazza and other buildings. Between the columns of both enclosures hang a great number of lamps, which are constantly constantly lighted at night. The first foundation of this second enclosure was laid by Omar the second caliph, who built no more than a low wall, to prevent the court of the Caaba from being encroached upon by private buildings; but by the liberality of succeeding princes, the whole has been raised to that state of magnificence in which it appears at present.

This temple enjoys the privilege of an asylum for all sorts of criminals: but it is most remarkable for the pilgrimages made to it by the devout Mussulmans, who pay so great a veneration to it, that they believe a single sight of its sacred walls, without any particular act of devotion, is as meritorious in the sight of God, as the most careful discharge of one's duty, for the space of a whole year, in any other temple.