The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-03
HAIR FROM MAHOMET'S BEARD.
Relic That Is said to BE Working
Miracles i'm This Country.
New York Special.

A hair from Mahomet's beard is now in
New York. 1t has been here for several
weeks and its occult presence may account
for some of the funny things that nave hap
pened in that time. The hair was brought
to this country by Hadji Tahar, Moorish
consul in New York. 1t is several inches
long, a faded, gray-brown in Color and.
despite its great age of 1900 years, ii is in
good preservation. Mr.. Tahar keeps 1t in
an elaborate inlaid case, which is in turn
inclosed in six other cases, each separately
locked by different key.
Nobody needs TO be told that Mahometans
swear by the beard OF the Prophet. 1t
is in their eyes the most potent or charms
and Mr.. Tahar firmly believes that THIS SIN
gle hair of il has brought good luck in turn
TO one tribe after another OF desert jewellers,
working many miracles until II came INTO
his keeping. 1t has saved his life: lie
keeps it in his apartment in III Eighth ave
nue. and never goes on journey without II.
The relic was laid away in the sixth CEN
tury,' said Hadj Tahar to the Post-Dis-
patch correspondent, in shrine OF the
Kaaba at Mecca, the hottest spot on earth,
where it was watched day and night Dy
seven priests, each OF whom Kept one OF the
Holding the. relic carefully, Mr. Tahar
showed it to the reporter: The outer box
is of wood, dark and polished. The last one
OF the series is of platinum and looks IKE
solid piece of metal. A sacriegious hand
could not break it open by hammering, but
when its owner touches the secret o Spri IN r !.
relic like it in the world said HadJi Tahar.
1T is sung in Moslem song and celebrated
history. 4
than lose this little case. 1 have made six
trips into Morocco; | have often been IN
deadly danger-shipwrecked twice and
thrown among lepers and yeilow-fever pa
tients. once when l was wrecked in the
Mediterranean i was one of the few who
survived. 1t was the talisman that saved
me- | have been successful IL trade With Its
The Moorish consul is a handsome man,
stately and dignified in his long, flowing
robes Il have always kept the relic Sc
cret," said Hadji Tahar. "A devout believer
would soil his soul even with the guilt of
murder in order to possess it. If it were
start from Mecca for far-away New York to
regain it at any cost ana place II in the
kaaba If any man W. we're killed In trying to
aud happiness in the hereafter"
How did it get away from Mecca"
ssd t the Consul Slightly evadng
the point. Since then il has passed through
many hands, bringing always good luck. 1t
world. Zen years after II was stolen it be-
came the property of the kahal tribe in
Northern Morocco. Their fame spread. The
Korishi stole it from them, and they wan
dered about the desert their cattle never
| lacking green food while they had it. Next
the Zehaman tribe gained 1t in pitched bat
| tie with the korisni. The korishi Sheikh
died of broken heart and the tribe was
scattered. Ii was bad luck TO lose the relic.
For fifty years the Zehaman's held il and
| prospered. They were large tribe of nearly
| 1000 members. almost invincible- The daugh-
| ter of the Sheik of the ZehamdnS fell in love
with a member of the Wald Waldrahbekh
tribe and on leaving for her new home
asked that the relic be given her as her
dover Strangely enough the casket was
| given her and went out of the possession of
| the tribe. 1t remained in the new tribe three
generations, then went To merchant named
Hashmesh He was engaged in carrying
dates. silks and tapestries from the interior
to the coast and for years had with him
the little talisman on all bis journeys. He
grew rich and great man. At his death
the relic came to the Wade Mali tribe, from
whom ii passed forty years later to the
Deckhrnas, afterward to the Edubellas.
Twenty years ago il came into possession
OF an Arab at Mecca.
II had heard from childhood OF the won
derful relic-how the men who have owned
1t have been mighty in war and rich in peace.
Some years ago l learned who had IT, He
/ worked years before / asked him for the
relic. He very fond of me- One day
he said that he would give me anything he
had in the world. i asked him for the hair
from Mahonmet's head. He wept and be-
sought me, saying: Rather would give you
my life than the relic He was long hest
tating. But what could he do? He had
sworn an oath. and 1t must be kept. Well.
ne was a of his word. He gave me the
talisman. He died soon after. / have heard
that his family had many troubles. AS for
me, | have had none. Good fortune came
10 me when he gave me the little box /
know whereof / speak | have seen the
coffin of Mahomet hanging in midair he
prophesied. / have seen miracles. many
miracles from the relics of Mahomet."