The Republican journal., 1901-08-22
Africa. There are 4s9 magnificent col
NmnS in the noaSnlla with oonitolc of

1 @Ae->~>Ss
umns in the mosque, with capitals of
every style of Roman architecture.
The central nave is wider than the
ISOthers and its columns are arranged in
groups of three. 1t leads from the Bah
ell Behou, beautiful Gate to the Nah
rib or sacrarium. The former is of ex-
quisitely sculptured wood, with long
inscription in relief, taken from the
Koran. The Mahrib has two alabaster
columns sent by a Byzantine Emperor
to Hassan Iba Naaman, in the year $50.
The walls are of wonderfully tinted
stucco work, through the openings of
which can yet be seen the original Nah
rib of Sidi Okba. To the right of this
is the splendid pulpit of carved wood,
six metres high, every panel being of
different design. The great chamber is
dimly lighted by colored glass in the
dome. The court is surrounded by
double arcade with coupled columns,
and under it an immense cistern occu
pies the entire area. The minaret,
facing the Beautiful Gate" is a high
quadrangular tower of three stories,
gradually tapering upward. Several
pieces of Roman sculpture are built
into the base, and you may ascend to
the top, if you like, by the same steps
which Scipio or Caesar may have trod
when Rome ruled the world.
Close by the mosque is the Zaounia,
religious college or convent) of Sidi
Add el-Djilani, whose confraternity has
so many votaries in north Africa, al
though its headquarters are at Bagdad.
1t has a lofty cupola and the usual
cloisters leading to conventual cells.
Perhaps the finest specimen of Moorish
architecture in the place is another Of
these queer Mohammedan converts,
named after the great Sidi Abid ell
Ghariani, who died here in 1902. The
entrance is false arcade in black and
white marble, in which is a square door,
opening into an interior court of two
stories. The upper story, supported by
ancient Roman columns, is divided into
cells for dervishes and other so-called
holy men.
Exactly in the centre of the city is
the sacred we'll of El-Barota, which is
believed to have communication with
Mecca. The most important building
of all is the Djemaat es-Sehebi, where
ic iofo r,oG nf tho irhf
panions of the Prophet, Abdulla ibn-
Zemaa el-Beloui. With him are buried
| what he always carried about in life,
three hairs of the Prophets beard-one
under his tongue, one ON his right arm,
and the third next his heart. You enter
| the tomb through doorway near the
! base of the minaret and find the whole
vast interior faced with beautiful tiles
roof of pale green tiles, each termi-
mating in a gilded crescent. Vestibule
| leads to veStibule, court to court, domed
chamber to domed chamber each a for
est of marble columns and glittering
tiles. At last the shrine of ''the Com
panion" is reached, a great round room,
lighted by windows of colored glass.
The catafalque in the centre is sur
rounded by a high grating and covered
with two palls-one of black velvet,
adorned with Arabic inscriptions in
silver, presented by Ahmed Bey; the
other of dull red and blue brocade, sent
by Sid Es-Sadik Bey. In an adjoining
apartment stands the catafalque of
and on every side are narrow cells for
the housing Of pilgrims to this holy of
holes, in the very heart of kerouan.
| FANNIE B. WARD.