Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-19
A CAIRO PAGEANT
SCENES DURING THE GREAT FEs-
TIvAL OF THE KISWA.
Preliminary to the Fets of the Holy
Mammal, Which Begins the
Month Of the Hal.


The great event of the Month Of the
kadf' will be the procession of the Kiswa.
This is preliminary to the festival of the
Holy Mammal, which will inaugurate the
Month Of the Hail. for on that splendid
occasion the Holy Camel will start with its
rich burden for the holy Arabian shrine.
and from all parts of the Mohammedan
world the pilgrims will begin to stream to-
ward Mecca by caravan and boat. The
orientals everywhere are inordinately fond
of spectacular displays. The Kiswa and
Mammal pageants appeal to the same pas
sionate delight in brilliant public shows as
the recent Indian Durbar No people excel
the Egyptians in this faculty for reveling
in the spectacular. Egyptians and Arabs,
as well as Turks, Moors and Persians, con-
trive to duplicate their enjoyments. This
they do by repeating the Bairam. which
follows Ramadan, in the shape of that
curious Kurban Bairam or Feast of
Rams" which is celebrated seventy days
after the Bairam proper. In like manner,
not content by any means to wait for the
gorgeous pageant of the Mammal the
Cairenes treat themselves to a most strik-
ing rehearsal. The Ead-el-Kiswa is almost
as wonderful an occasion as the Ead-el-
Mammal. The prelude is fully worthy of
the main drama.
Holy Carpet.
The Kiswa, or Holy Carpet Is made Of
heavy silk brocade, not of fine texture, be-
cause it is intended to be used to cover the
Kaaba externally, and so must be strong
enough to endure sunshine and storm alike
for a whole year. Near the end Of the
year 1t is cut into pieces for sale to the
pilgrims, and the kaaba is left for a fort
night uncovered waiting for the new Kiswa,
which Is put on In the midst OF elaborate
ceremonies on the 10th day of the Dju-el-
ho{r f1,a 4rct dow Nqt hn rao$
Mecca festival According to the rules of
Islam the fabric must not be composed en-
ttrely of silk, and therefore it is lined with
black cotton stuff. The interior Of the
kaaba is hung with fabric that Is only
renewed when new sultan ascends the
throne.
The reason of the procession of the Kiswa
Is simple enough. When the Carpet Is COM
where 1t is to rest before the starting of
the Mammal. All Cairo pours out to wit
ness the transfer. At least a million spec
tators gather. In the radiant atmosphere
the scene Is dazzling. The roofs are ka-
leidoscopic with the agitation of excited
women, children and slaves, dressed in all
the tints of the rainbow. Crowds Of people
of all classes, in vaiegated costumes line
allow. The Kiswa Is q brilliant fabric, but
very little of Its wonderful beauty is visi-
BILE, for it is not openly displayed. 1t is not
carpet at all, though many people imagine
that it's function is to adorn the ground at
the entrance to the Kaaba. 1t consists Of
five sections. Four OF these form the great
belt or band which is to line the four sides
of the square shrine.
The Borko or Veil.
The fifth section is quite separate from
this fourfold Hezam or belt 1t is the
Borko, or Veil, which will hang in front Of
the entrance to the Kaaba. Each section Of
the Hezam is carried on a separate ass
along the streets Of Cairo. Each has very
motley procession to itself, consisting Of
soldiers, zaptiehs and fantastic dervishes,
who perform all sorts of fantastic tricks
en- PEASANT, to the delight OF the spectators.
Tall camels. slightly stained with henna.
carrying prettily dressed children, follow in
the route.1s The Borko alone is displayed
conspicuoasly. 1t isl carried on a high
frame, and Is regarded with special venera-
ton. In the earliest times Of Moslem his
tory there was no veil contributed. The
first which was presented was the gift Of
Fatima, the wife of Sultan Saleh, and ever
since the name Of the We'll Of Sitna Fa-
TINA" has been annually bestowed on this
Holy Curtain.
The Mammal comes last Of ALL playing
only supplementary part in this pageant,
as its glorifcation will follow in turn. This
structure Is tall, conical canopy, highly
ornamented carried by magnificent camel.
Everybody who looks upon 1t understands
that 1t will, when the right time comes,
conceal the Hezam and the Borko, protect
ing them all through the long desert jour
ney. The Kdswa Is manufa ctured at the ex-
pense of the government by skilled artifcers
in the citadel Of Cairo. 1t is about 12O feet
long, the Kaaba at Mecca being about thir
ty feet long and thirty wide, although it is
not perfectly equilateral or rectangular.
The word Kaaba means cube" and the
shape Of the Belt Allah, or House of
God" in the grand court Of the mosque at
Mecca answers nearly enough to the term,
though in reality it Is a somewhat unequal
trapezium. The black Kiswa, however,
hides the slight inequalities