European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 7, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                American military women wearing traditional Bayas tour the National mosque. An Abaya is required dress for All women entering the mosque. Below a photographer lies on the floor to get a picture of the ceiling. Prayer times Are posted on the mosque s Walls. Continued from Page 9 almost deserted when the americans arrived. Resembling a Golden Palace the mosque looms Over a vast Concrete parking lot. Gothic lampposts a like a Hundred Iron guards a surround the Muslim edifice. The smell of incense wafts from somewhere inside. The american tourists removed their shoes and the women were asked to Don the Black gowns called Abaya that most Muslim women Wear in Public. The mosque Cost 7 million bahraini Dinar More than $26 million Alhaddad said. The Money did not come from the government Treasury but was provided by the country s Emir Quot because he wanted to do something for the  most of the materials used to build the mosque came from other countries. Quot the doors Are made of Teakwood from India Quot Alhaddad said. Quot the lights Are French. The carpets came from Scotland and the Brick for the Walls came from  the tour included Only the mosque s main Hall which Alhaddad said can hold 7,000 kneeling Pra Yering men. Women worship in a separate smaller room. After about 25 minutes Alhaddad ushered his group out of the mosque and Back to the bus. Quot even though the government said it is of i think some people do not like it Quot Alhaddad said of having americans in the mosque. The next Stop was the Bahrain National museum on the Island s Northeast Beach overlooking the Khawer Al Kab Bay. The museum contains artefacts and displays depicting the Island s history. Archaeologists have found proof that Bahrain was inhabited 3,000 years before Christ. Christian arabs once believed that the Island was the Carden of Eden because among other reasons Bahrain was once covered with Lush Groves of Date and Mango Palms. Quot tribes travelled from As far away As Egypt to Bury their dead Here because they believed it would help them get to heaven Quot a museum curator said. Quot for this reason there once were More than 170,000 burial Mounds on the  the Mounds some looking like Small Hills came under the Protection of the government in 1976 after years of being destroyed by Farmers seeking new Fields and by the spread of new Towriss. Fewer than 5q,000mounds Are still intact Alhaddad said. I Quot after the Law protected the Mounds towns just grew around them Quot he said and later pointed out Mounds of dirt nestled Between parking lots and apartment buildings. Also detailed in the museum is the country s More recent history. Bahrain s tribal armies weathered a series of defeats until coming under the forced Protection of Britain in 1861. Before the 18th Century Bahrain was dominated by the roman Empire Portugal Germany and Russia. A bahraini woman demonstrates the use of natural cosmetics and scents As part of an Quot exhibit at the National museum. A guard at the mosque appears to be standing watch Over the visitors Tennis shoes. 10 stripes Magazine november 7, 1991