Transporting the Mahmal to Mecca onboard a British ship from Cairo to Jeddah - on pilgrimage to Mecca. The Egyptian Mahmal was an empty camel litter containing the Quran and an expensively-made carpet which was intended to cover the tomb of the Prophet at Medina. Mamluk Sultan Baybars introduced it in 1266 CE. As rulers of Egypt, the Ottoman Empire Sultans continued this tradition.