The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-11-20
CAIRO ON A "TEAR.n

CAIRO ON A TEAR
CAIRO, Egypt, Oct. 4th.-Cairo has
been regular tear" for week. You
see, the holy carpet has arrived from
Mecca, and the Arabs are simply crazy.
This carpet is most INTERESTING thing to
contemplate, and the service every year
has grown to such enormous proportions
that it commands the attention of the
whole civilized world. This carpet is
not an old carpet, as is generally sup
posed, but new one is made every year
for this service, of which will tell you.
Expensive Well, rather! 1t takes
whole year to make it, and when it is
finished it stands out marvel of fine
silver and gold thread worked into beau
tiful designs, and the whole containing
many beautiful pearls, rubies and other
precious stones. To be sure, these
stones are preserved from year to year,
and placed on every new carpet, but the
body of the carpet is new every year.
This new carpet is taken to Mecca,
where is the tomb of Mahomet, the Pro-
phet, and spread over his grave, where
it remains for two months, and is then
brought to Cairo again, where all this
hubbub is kicked up.
l wish you might have seen these
Arabs the day this carpet arrived. They
woke me at & o'clock in the morning,
parading the streets in front of my hotel,
and they kept that parade up all day
long, and have hardly stopped since.
One brass band after another, followed
by one of the priests (whO accompanied
the carpet to Mecca and Il bowling null
titude have kept the city in an uprOar.
However, the carpet was finally taken to
the citadel of Cairo, where it has since
been divided among the priests and
few favored Arabs. | was favored with
a seat among the foreign COnsulS, close
by the side of the great priest who re-
ceived the carpet on its return, and there
fore had a fine view of the whole pro-
ceedings.
When | arrived at the citadel the car
pet had not arrived, but was not long
kept waiting. Promptly at 9 o'clock the
Governor of Cairo and escort arrived at
the building, and salute of ten guns
was fired. Then came the foreign Con-
suls, American, French, British, etc,
and the trouble began. There were 1000
Arab soldiers drawn up tn line, aud
fine, manipulating set they were in
their white uniforms and red turbans.
Then there were 100 lancerS on horse
back, with their gorgeous colOred flags,
the artillery and about 100000 Arabs.
Great scott! What performance they
did have! The carpet came in on a
camel and was put up in the shape of
pyramid, only one side left open. Then
came the priests who accompanied it to
Mecca, and all of their retainers, each on
a camel. They were beating drums or
blowing some hideOus wind instruments,
aud t, lnt ,nn,nlc aud in
gorgeous costumes, scarcely approaches
the magnificent truth. AS soon as the
carpet came royal salute of twenty-One
guns was fired, the lancers dismounted,
the soldiers fell in" and a din com
menced such as had never heard. Can
mons firing, bands playing, and 100000
Arabs crazy as could be, made something
of a row.
All this in honor of the prophet. The
Arabs rushed like mad to get to touch
the sacred piece of silver and gold and
precious stones, firmly believing if they
could but touch it they were not only
sure of heaven, but had received a
sovereign cure for every i'll and trouble.
Not only this, but they believe if they
can only touch the priests robe it is
sure cure for all ills. 1t is really pitiful
to see the e Arabs when once they get to
touch the carpet. They at once cover
their faces with their hands, strike the
chest an kiss line and again the hand
that touched the carpet. They can be
seen all along the streets along which
the carpet passes going through this
performance. If one is 50 fortunate as
to receive but smlll thread he at once
inclOses it in small leather bag, ties it
around his neck, and from that time on
he is not only satisfied that he will have
all he may desire, but as sure of ever
lasting life in the world to come.
got the chief janiSsary to the Ameri-
can Consul to get me a piece of this car
pet. He is IA MOhammedan, but his long
association with American Consuls has
made him somewhat Chrstanized. 1t
was only, however, after repeated
promises ON my part that would never
use it us matter Of ridicule that he con-
scented to give it to me. He bears the
name of Solomon Mahomet, and is
kind fellow indeed, especially to Ameri-
cans in CariO.-Cidude Payne in Boston
journal.