The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-30
Copyright. 19O7 by Frank G. Carpenter)
 Eafr

Copyright, 1907, by Frank G. Carpenter)
 Kairouan. Tunisia. K I ORTHERN AFRICA is now in the M throes of a Mohammedan revival. From the Atlantic to the Nile the people are stirred up in behalf of their re- lgion. and there are whispers everywhere tavoring the inauguration of holy war to drive out the Christians. This move ment is strongest in the least civilized countries. Ii exists throughout all parts of Morocco and especially in the western section of the Desert of Sahara. It Is rife in Tunishia and also in Tripol l hear mutterings of it from people who have come here from Egypt and the authori- ties everywhere are alive to it's dangers,
 The feeling against Christians is espe- cially strong in this place, where l am writing. Kairouan is the Mecca of north Africa, and one of the holiest cities of the Mohammedan world. 1t was founded by the famous general, Sdi Okba, and for 1900 years it was uncontaminated by Christians. A half century since it would not have been safe for a foreigner to enter it, and in 1S30 when Sir Greenville Tenn pie came here, with escort of soldiers, by the permission of the Bey of Tnnis he was only allowed to go out after sunset, and that in the disguise of an Arab. It was not until it's conquest by the French about twenty-five years ago, that kai- rouan was opened to Christians, and to- day they are looked on with hatred. The town is now in the charge of French sol diers It has a French controller 10 di- rect the sheiks how to governs and it is through a card from him that l am able to make my way about and visit the mosques.
 Kairouan is so sacred in the minds of the Mohammedans that they make pil- grimages to it just as they do to Mecca and Medina. There are now pilgrims scat tered through the various mosques, and one may see them praying in the desert not far away. Many of them come for hundreds of miles to worship at the shrine here. They sleep in the mosques and during certain seasons they overflow the city, and their tents are to be seen cov- erng the country outside the walls.
 The Kairouan of today has twenty-two mosques and many tombs of Mohamme- dan saints In the middle ages it had 300 mosques. 900 baths and GOO hotels where caravans could stop. It's population then numbered 1. 900 coo and it celebrated all over the world a seat of religion and learning, Today it has only 25,00O in- habtants and some of the greatest mosques are outside of the city.
 The town is situated hill. It Is surrounded by walls as high a two story house and is entered by gates trhe town is of Mohammedan architecture. The houses are hat-roofed buildings of one or two stories, standing along streets so idI- TOW that few of them are accessible. eX- cept on foot. on horseback or on donkeys. The business is done in covered bazaars, and the people are dressed in the turbans and gowns and strange female costumes worn by the Arabs The women are closely yelled when they go out on the street. and it is not uncommon to see one draped in black from head to foot her face being so covered that not even an eye can be seen.
 Mosque of the Holy Hairs.
 l have gone through the principal mosques. One of the most interesting is that of the barber of the Prophet Moham- med. This saIntly man is buried here, and with him three hairs of the prophets beard, which makes the mosque especially holy. These hairs were secured by the barber day after he had shaved Mo hammed, and he carried them about with him for the rest of his life. One he kept under his tongue, another over his heart and the third pasted on his right arm The Mobammedans revere anything that comes from their prophet, and especially the hairs Of his beard. l remember, when l visited the mosque of Jamma Musjid in Delhi, India, that the greatest curiosity