Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-07-05
Persian Fanaticism.
A IMMATURE HE'LL UPON EARTH--A rEs-
TIvAL OF DEATH.


TIvAL OF DEATH.
A Constantinople correspondent of the
New York Tribune, writing cf the defeat
of Omar Pasha in Crete, aud the scenes
incident thereto, says:
Washington Irving, in his book on the
successors of Mshomet, remarks upon
Persian religious festival in honor OF HUI
sein, the son Of Ali, and il has long been
known that extraordinary praclic were
kept up in Persia on this holy day. But
although have lived many years in Con-
stantinople, l had never dreamed of such |
scenes transpiring in Europe as saw the |
other night in the very heart of Stampool. |
Under the protection of a Persian mcr-
chant | went TO vast caravanserai called |
Valide Khan, on the last night of this |
second festival, which continues for ten
days. The ceremony commenced about
eight o'clock in the evening and continued
until midnight. No pen can describe tie
impression which it made on me. feel
now, as tlough had stood for those hours
at the open gates of hell itself.
The whole inclosure, containing some
10000 persons, mostly Persians, was
lighted BY torches and hung around with
black cloih richly ornamental. AT the
commencement Of the ceremony there
were perhaps 10000 persons with breasts
and heads bare bearing candle in the
lett hand, and with their right beating
their breasts, and heads as they marched
slowly around, crying out in tones of an
guish Oh, Hussien! Oh, Hussien 0,
Ali 0, wretehed men that we are
There were also in this procession richly
eaparisoned horses, without riders, but
having two drawn swords crossed over lie
saddle and Two white but blood marked
pigeons fastened there. As the evening
went on, the passions of those worshipers
were wrought up BY imprisoned d-scrp-
tons of the death Of Hussien,t the guilt and
treachery of the murderers, etc. AT last
the beating upon their breasts sounded
like the roar of thunder. Their cries Of
agonies and yells Of rage became friehtful.
Their distorted faces, their frantic move
ments and their singular dresses seen in
the torch light, made one tremble in spite
of himself. But the worst was to come
When it appeared as though the ianuc'sm
and madness of these thousands conld not
be increased 10 a higher point, | suddenly
heard new and more frightlnl chorus Of
yells, and appeared a sedan borne on the
shoulders of men clad in ancient armor,
containing four children, to represent the
wives of Husseip, who were weeping and
crying.
Following this there rushed in the
square 200 to 800 men-eaeh with
drawn sword IN his hand and with no other
clothing than white shirt. These men
crying out like the others, Gu, their heads
and faces with their swords until their
white shirts were soaked in blood and
their heads n mass OF wounds.
Their arrival seemed 10 rouse the pas
sions of all to the highest pitch, and the
scene which followed was one which once
seen, could never be forgotten.
For half an hour these thousands mourn
ing for Hussein looked and acted like
demons. ] never saw before such express
sions on the human face, of mingled rage
and sorrow. ] have never before heard
such sounds coming from human lips.
Once those words dripping with blood
| turned upon the crowd, and it seemed for
! moment as though there was no escape
from an indiscriminate slaughter, but for
tunately these mad Moslems had no idea
that they might have found few Gaours
in the crowd. The Act was only intended
to increase the excitement of the faithful.
AT last we got out from the crowd into the
silent streets. 1t seemed impossible that
/ had actually seen such sight as this in
Constantinople but it is only what may be
seen here every year as this festival comes
rouud 1t is proof that Moslem fanati-
eism has not yet died Out. These poor
wounded fanatics are often sick for months,
and often die of their wounds, but they
believe that their blood has saved their
souls, that Hussein will be sure savior.
A windy orator in the New York
Legislature after lengthy effort stopped
for a drink of water. 4 / rise" said
Bloss, to point of order" Everybody