The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-08-24
Cairo's Holy Carpet.
Elaborate Ceremony When 1t Starts
on Journey to Mecca.


In the present state OF the Moslem
year. which depends on the revolutions
not Of the sun. but of the moon, it is
toward the end of July that the Moham-
medans of Egypt undertake the annual
pilgrimage to the holy place at Mecca,
bearing at the head of their procession
the valuable tissue of gold and brocade
known through the world as the holy
carpet.
The term is, of course, a misnomer
The fabric is not carpet at all. 1t is
not even in one piece.
1t IS series of pieces of tapestry
embroidered with texts of the Koran,
worked In gold wire and destined to be
hung round the walls of the Kaaba, u
square stone building in the centre OF the
court OF the great mosque at Mecca.
Most resplendently embroidered Of all
these hangings is a series Of pieces
worked In green and gold, compa -able to
number of altar cloths, known collec-
lively as the Kisweh, and designed to
cover the tomb OF Mohammed
Attended by a brilliant concourse OF
he saelks and doctors of Islam, the
learned men OF the Azhar University.
the troops OF tho Egyptian army. and
representatives OF the Sultan and the
British Government, the departure of the
pilgrimage and the Kisweh Is cele-
brated by an elaborate ceremonial in the
wide open square below the citadel OF
Cairo.
In the centre Of the square, guarded
by troops, stands the Kisweh, draped
on species OF ark modelled In shape
and size on tho Prophets tomb.
A string of camels, each bearing q
piper playing an eerie and melancholy
tune, marches slowly in procession three
times round the elaborate display Of dra-
peries to the laundering salute u guns.
At the head OF the Iine carefully led
by attendants holding brilliantly embroi-
dered reins, marches superb specimen
Of cream colored camel, bearing an
embroidered palanquin beautifully
worked in red and gold.
This Is the Mammal. II is empty
save for two copies OF the Koran, and
year by year such n palanquin has
marched at the head OF the Egyptian
pilgrimage ever since, in the thirteenth
century. the beautiful Turkish slave
Shagaret-el-Durr, who became Queen OF
Egypt, made the pilgrimage to Mecca in
just such another erection.
The camel that carries this light but
elaborate burden has been bred for this
days work. and after the pilgrimage is
completed he will never do stroke OF
work again.
Three times round the Kisweh goes
the procession, and then 20 the sound OF
salutes and saivos and the music or the
soldiers band it swings slowly down
the road to the mosque of the Hassanen,
whence the pilgrimage starts on It's long
Journey across the desert-a Journey in
which. however, modern convenience has
not dlsdained to invoke the secular as
sistance of railway and steamboat
What is the origin OF this old time
ceremonial it is hard to say. It's roots
undoubtedly so far deeper in time than
Islam. which. af,or all, is a compare.
lively modern religion.
The kaaba at Mecca IL Of course
far older than Mohammed. It was a CEN
tire of idoiatrous worship In his day, and
we are told that the Prophet purged Il
of its idols.
1t Is a square stone building into the
wall of which IS built the Black Stone,
the most venerated object OF the Islamic
worship.
Indications are not lacking 20 connect
the original worship OF the Kaaba with
an Asiatic version OF Venus. II may
we'll be, then. that In the annual Pilgrim
age o. the Moslem world wo bnve an
echo OF something very like tho process
sions In ancient Athens.