Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-03-31
THE ANsAYR1I OR AssAssINs

THE ANsAYRII OR AssAssINS.
Blackwood's Magazine for December,
contains review of recent book of ira.
vels in the East, by Lieutenant Walpolc
of the British Navy, the staple Of which
is an account Of the Ansayrii or Order of
AssSssins, whose origin was in the Middle
Ages, and who inhabit that portion of
Syria including the northermost range of
Lebanon. The traveller entered their
country from the port of Latakia, the an.
cient Laodicea on the Mediterranean
The following is extracted from the Ma.
gazine:
The Ansayrii, or Nassairi, or Assas-
sins, are a singularly surviving relic OF
the followers of the Old Man of the Noun
tain, so celebrated in the history Of the
Crusades.% Historians have fallen into
great mistake in supposing this Orderto
have been hereditary dynasty, or to
was simply an Order, like that of the
Templars. Like thenl, the members wore
white garments set off with crimson, ty-
pifying innocence and blood. The poll.
cy of both was to obtain possession Of
strong places, and by terror to keep the
surrounding nations in subsection. The
Assassins succeeded in this object so far
as to dictate thoir will to several Sultans,
many Yizers, and innumerablc minor au.
thorities. When the Sultan Of the Sell
junks sent an ambassador to the Old Man
of the Mountains, demanding his submis.
sion, the following well-known eircum-
stance took place The chiefsaid to one
of his followers, Stab thyself!' To an
other he said, throw thyself from the bat
tlementv Before he had ceased to speak,
his disciples had obeyed hiIn, and lay
dead, not only willing, but eager martyrs
to their faith. The chief then turning to
the envoy, said, Take what thou hast
seen for thine answer. am obeyed by
seventy thousand such men as tliese.'-
The founder of this terrible sect was Has
san Ben Sahab. He was 'Dal,' or
master-missionary from the Secret Lodge
established at Cairo, (about l004I A. D., J
in order to sap and overthrow the Cali.
phRt of Abbas. and establish that OF the
Fatamites. Hassan gave promise of his
greatness in his youth, became faVoriIe
of Melekehah. was banished from Court
by the intrigues of a rival, and took re-
fugo at Ispahan. Here he became init
ated in the voluptuous and atheistieal
doctrines Of the lSmailis, and was sent to
Egypt, to the Caliph Mostansur, as a
preacher and promulgator Of that atroci-
GUS creed. He was also banished from
the Egyptian court, and cast ashore in
Syria. After variety of adventures in
the course Of his travels from Aleppo
through Persia, he at length obtained pos
session Of the fOrtresst near Khaswin.-
Here he remained for the remainder Of
his life, never leaving the castle. and only
twice moving from his own apartment 70
the terrace during period Of thirty eight
years. Here he perfected, in mystery
and deep seclusion, his diabolical doc
trines, and soon sent 'Diss, or missiOna-
ries, Of his own into all lands. The Sc
cret society of which he was the head
contained several grades, embracing the
initiated, the aspirant and the devoted
mere executioners or tools Of higher intel
ligence.t The grand master was called
Sidna (Sidney) "our lord" and more
commonly Sheik el Djebel, the Sheik or
Old Man Of the Mountain, because the
Order always possessed themsel Ives Of
the castles in mountainous regions IN
Irak. Kuhistan and Syria. The Old Man,
robed in white, resided always in the
mountain fort Of Alamut. Here he main
tanned himself until at length the daggeFs
Of his Fedavie, or devoted followers,
freed him from his most active enemies
and appalled, the others into acquiescenee
Alamut was now called the abode Of For.
tune and all the neighboring strOngholds
submitted to the Ancient of the Mountain.
The Assassins were prescribed in all civil
lized communities, and the dagger and
the sword found constant work on their
own professors. The Assassins. however,
like the Indian Thugs, erePt into sllsesi'
sThs Myssery relating 70 This comuunisy q x
great, that the lab0TiOus MGllaT, In his twenty.
four books, had not attempted 70 Penetrate it,
And GibbOn, Notwithstanding his acknowledge
pleasure in painting scenes q blood, has testSu
The Order Of Assassins SeTy supoThelAliy' AtoI@
co Polo -, as usual, the mOSt entertaining Of an-
thoTities - far ~ he goes; bat e falnAlnea ~
Joseph Won Hammer tO.eGploTs tbs Mat Feil-
| ges Of their strange story With vast and patien
| Teseafsh. He has thrown together the rcsuItn o
| his labors fn a small Voinme Of great interest
fThs Vultnrob Nest.
9Dais Ref1 aud Fedsvio