A HOLY CITY IN TUNIS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 6329, 25 July 1881, Page 3

A HOLY CITY IN TUNIS.

The Kegency of Tunis contains one of. the holy cities of Islam, the celebrated Kairwan or Keerwan, which very few Europeans have visited, and which is as much venerated by the African Arabs as Fez in ■ Morocco, or Cairo in Egypt. Pilgrimages to Kairwan take place every year as to Mecca or Medina. Kairwan contains now 12,000 inhabitants. It is situated 140 kilometres to the south of Tunis, at’the foot of mountains forming the last range of the Atlas, near the Kerwan Lake. Its foundation dates from tte ■ time of the invasions of the Arabs in the north- of Africa, and it has been for two centuries the capital of one of the most important provinces of the empire of the Caliphs. Kairwan is a fortified. town, surrounded by a loopholed, .wail. It- contains 55 zaouas or Marabout chapels, and 26 Amongst the zaouas—the most remarkable is that of Sidi-Sabah, which is said to contain the body of Mahomet’s barber. The Kairwan mosqueis held in great repute.amongst the Mahometans. Dedicated to Sidi-Okbah, the founder of the. town, it.is known'Jby, the name of feteat: mosque. According to tli&kifitonca

employed in its construction came by themselves into position, according to the orders of an invisible architect. This line mosque is adorned with 500 columns, made of_ granite, green, red, or yellow marbles. In spite of its great reputation for sanctity, Kairwan, the former capital of the Aglabites, is renowned for its yhazks abnecs, dancing and singing girls, who are held in the same repute as those of Egypt and India. Kairwan is the principal mart in the interior of the Regency ; it contains manufactures of yellow morocco leather, burnous, woollen caps, and gunpowder, and is one of the most import, at markets for the expo t ition of dates.