Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-10
THE HOLY CARPET
1T IS ANNUALLY CARRIED FROM
CAIRO TO MECCA.
Used to Cover the Kaaba, One Of tho
Worlds Most Ancient
Buildings.
From the New York Tribune.

From the New York Tribune.
few days ago Bedouins attempted to
rob the caravan escorting the holy carpet
from Cairo to Mecca. On this occasion
they were unable to secure the spoil which
had tempted them, for they were beaten off
and several of them killed.
This is not the first time the caravan
transporting the holy carpet to the holy
city of the Moslems has been attacked by
the Bedouins. The carpet is frequently ac-
companied by thousands of pilgrims from
all parts of Africa. They carry with them
much treasure. This tempts the maraud-
ing Arabs of the desert to attack the cara
van. The fact that the Arabs are Jealous
Mussulmans does not deter them from fall
ing upon fellow religionists performing one
of the most sacred duties of their faith and
conveying the covering of the most holy
object connected with their worship. The
goods of the pilgrims they consider to be
their legitimate prey.
The caravan carrying the sacred carpet
is the most important one which traverses
the pilgrims road over the sandy wastes
of the land of pilgrimage" Annually a
similar caravan makes the journey, for the
carpet covering the kaaba at Mecca must
be replaced each year. The Kaaba is a
box-shaped stone building standing in a
low part of the holy city. 1t is about 40
feet long, SO feet wide and 30 feet high.
silk damask. Around this cloth is band
of Colored silk, into which have been woven
quotations from the Koran in gold and
green threads. The band passes entirely
around the queerly shaped building about
30 feet above the ground. This covering Is
the holy or sacred carpet. Few Christians
have seen 1t in its place over the old stone
house. for to Christians Mecca is, like
Lhassa. the capital of Tibet, forbidden
city. Those who have been able to enter 1t
did so in disguise and at a risk of losing
their lives Only Mahometans may enter
the sacred valley on the floor of which the
little building stands.
Replaced Each Year.
The holy carpet is replaced each year by
a new one especially woven at Cairo. The
making is intrusted to the same family year
after year. 1t is begun in one part of the
city and carried in state to another, where
It is completed. 1t Is made of silk and
lined with cotton, in order to obey the laws
OF the Koran, which prescribe that nothing
made entirely of silk shall be used.
Cairo on the day which the carpet is
started for Mecca is full of excitement and
color. The streets are all alive. The SOL
diery are out. The khedive and his officials
are present in their gold-embroidered uni
forms. Thousands upon thousands of the
faithful followers of the prophet appear
there
The ceremonial connected with dispatch
ing the holy carpet is performed on the
great square near the citadel, In the south
eastern part of the city. In the procession
which accompanies the sections of the car
pet are holy men to drive away evil spirits
and camel carrying copy of the Koran
beneath a pyramidical structure covered
with richly embroidered draperies. Follow
ing the camel are the Htters, looking like
so many collins. containing the sections of
the carpet,