Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-11-15
TRY TO STEAL HOLY CARPET.
IT is Annually Carried From Cairo to
Mecca by MosIems.

Mecca by Moslems.
A few days ago Bedouins attempted
to rob the caravan escorting the holy
carpet from Cairo to Mecca, says
the New York Tribune. On this oc-
casion they were unable to secure the
spoil which had tempted them, for
they We're beaten off and several of
them killed
This is not the first time the cara
van Transporting the holy carpet to
the holy city of the Moslems has been
attacked by the Bedouins. The carpet
Is frequently accompanied by thous
ands of pilgrims from all parts Of
Africa. They carry with them much
treasure. This tempts the marauding
Arabs CT the desert to attack the
caravan. The fact hat the Arabs
are Jealous Mussulmans does not
deter them from falling upon fellow
religionists performing one of the
most sacred duties of their faith and
, conveying the covering of the most
holy object eonencted with their wor-
ship. 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 similar car
avian makes the journey, for the car
pet covering the kaaba at Mecca must
!
! a box-shaped stone building standing
! in low part of the holy city. 1t is
about 40 feet long, 80 feet wide and 50
; feet high The building is covered
with heavy black silk damask.
Around this cloth Is a band OF col
oIed silk, into which have been
woven quotations frcm the koran in
gold and green threads. The band
passes entirely around the queerly
shaped building about thirty-three
feet above the ground.
I This covering Is the Ioly or sacgd
ca pet Few Christians have seen
/ f. 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 it did so la dis
guise and at a risk OF losing TIER
lives. Only Mohammedans may en-
ter the SACRED valley, on the floor Of
which the little building stands.
The only carpet is replaced each
year by a new one especially woven
at Cairo. The making is intrusted
to the same family year after year It
is begun in one part of the city and
carried In state to another, where 1t
is completed. 1t is made of silk and
lined with cotton, IA order TO obey
the laws Of tie ko:an. which pre-
scribe that rethins made entirely of
silk shall be Goed.
Cairo on the day on which the car
pet Is started for Mecca Is full OF ex.
element and color, The streets are
all alive The sodiery are out Tie
khediye and his officials are present
In their gold-embroidered unifc rms
Thousands upon thousands of the
faithful followers of the prophet APP
pear there.
The ceremonial connected with dis
patching the holy carpet is performed
on the great square near the citadel
In the procession which accompanies
the sections Of the carpet are molly
men to drive away evil spirits and
camel carrying a cory Of the koran be-
meath pyramidical structure covered
with richly embroidered draper1es
Following the camel are the Etters.
looking Ike so many collins, contain
ing the sections of the carpet.