Dib SACRE DCL DY OF LHE SANDS 1075 
me UOUUNDNGORE 
ae 
TO 
QR LL 
PUTT TTTGGEE | 
ad 
ain a 
Photo by Lehnert & Landrock 
INTERIOR COURTYARD OF ONE OF THE MOSLEM SCHOOLS, THE ZAOUIA OF SIDI ABID 
EL GAHRIANI: 
belonging to a Mohammedan religious 
sect called ““Aissaouas,” or “Brotherhood 
of Jesus.” ‘This sect was founded by 
Sidi Mohammed ben Aissa, of Meknés, 
Morocco, about 380 years ago, and is 
very largely followed in Tripoli of Bar- 
bary, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. 
Owing to all mosques and zaouia being 
open to foreigners in Kairowan, most 
people think the sect has headquarters 
there; but such is not the case. But it 
is the only place where infidels are ad- 
mitted to watch their sacred rites. 
Walking down several narrow streets, 
T entered the zaouia of Sidi Mohammed 
ben Aissa of Mecknés, small when com- 
pared to the large mosques of the Barber 
and Sidi Okba. It was late in June, and, 
owing to the great heat, all foreigners 
had left Kairowan that could, so that I 
KATROWAN 
was to be alone amidst hundreds of 
fanatics to watch their sacred rites, 
which take place every Friday afternoon 
throughout the year. A priest gave me 
a chair. Evidently a service had just 
been finished, for there were hundreds 
of Arabs in the building. Some went 
out, while others came in. 
SWALLOWING SCORPIONS ALIVE 
The high priest, called a sheik; the 
second high priest, called a moudadem, 
and the third, called a caliph, and the 
elders of the zaouia formed a large circle, 
sitting on the floor chanting and beating 
their tom-toms, now fast, then slow. 
Several rows of men and youths had 
stood themselves in line, bowing and 
swaying to the rhythm of the music. 
Faster and faster beat the tom-toms; 
