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The caravan route was lined with a network of forts and guarded wells, particularly the route from Damascus as it was this route that saw the most number of travelers.
The caravans coming to Makkah were highly organized and stocked with food and goods. In fact, an armed guard led by a commander known as Amir Al Hajj protected the caravans. Armed guards were necessary to prevent raids from Bedouin tribes. The Amir Al Hajj would pay a tribute called Sarr to the tribal leaders whose territory the caravan passed through. Some termed the caravans to be like moving cities, which apart from an armed guard and an Amir, had a judge, saddler, chef, secretary, inspector of weight and provisions and two notaries amongst others. The norm for the caravans would be to march in the night in order to avoid the heat of the Arabian sun during the day. Each caravan was grouped according to the point of origin and would maintain the same positions in the line of march. The opening of the Hijaz Railway in the beginning of the 20th century marked the end of the celebrated caravans, as it facilitated pilgrim journeys coming from far and wide.
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