The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-06-05
Snake.Eaters.

sketch of the origin and manner of life of
the Mollammedan sect, found in Western
Barbary, and commonly known as snake
eaters, but designated by themselves,
Eisowys. The following is the account of
some of the eccentricities of their religious
(so-called) worship.
son the festival of their founder, they
flock together from all parts to 4 given
point-his tomb, if possible-amd fairly
brighten peaceful people out Of their wits,
Shops are close shut, and nobody stirs out
OF doors if he can help it. The proceed
ings commence with service in some favor
lite mosque, after which an adjourned takes
place to an uncovered court, which foams
part of the enclosure. and the real business
of the day begins.
Here are Eisowys, and to spare; for the
courtyard of the mosque is packed with a
crowd that for filth and rags are evidently
the flower of the sect \ deafening roar,
combined with 4 general unsteadiness of
legs, proclaims that they are suffering from
a determination of piety to the head. An
unfriendly critic might, perhaps, say that
they are drunk, and their conduct is GER
tainly open to the objection. Having been
pushed and crammed into corners by mas
ters OF the ceremonies, who use their sticks
with scrupulous impartiality, a space is at
length cleared for dancing. People whose
ideas of this fascinating amusement may
have been gathered within the walls of
European assembly -rooms might find some
difficulty in recognizing their favorite pas
time in the ldeous contortions of 4 couple
of rows of half-naked sayages, streaming
with perspiration, mad with excitement,
and literally decorated with knives and
pistols.
Forming into line, they begin to jump
as high as they can, keeping their feet close
together exactly like the Perfect Cure. =
They then advance very slowly, yelling
and barking, and waggins their heads with
violence that speaks well for the way in
which Eisowy skulls are stuck on. This
jumping and wagging goes on for ten
minutes or so, till the performers are al
most shut out from view by dust and steam
doleful kind Of chant, and beat away at
| 'tom-toms' (small drums) as if the welfare
| Of their order depended upon their personal
exertions. There is no sign of any refresh
ment--not even coffee-although the thirst
produced by such violent exercise must be
maddcning. But marvellous as is the Ell
durance of the dancers, there is limit to
everything; and so, having danced them
they drop one by one upon the ground, with
just strength enough left to crawl to Il
corner. The excitement is now at its
height as another set of dancers step out,
and exactly the same thing is repeated,
only, if possible. with greater noise and
with wilder confusion. Women, who are
pent up i'll neighboring houses catch the
frenzy, and add their long, plaintive wall
to the shrieks of the maddened dancers
So contagious has the excitement now be
come, that Z bystandcr of reycrned mien
and faultless toilet suddenly strips off his
clothes dashes his turban on the pavement,
kicks his slippers over the heads Of the
crowd, and darling into the middle of the
court, proceeds to execute dance on his
own private account. He is joined by
another-and yet another-and there they
till they totter and fall, still moaning out
the refrain of their dismal ditty. 4 friend
ly hand filings cloak over them, and they
are left to live OF die as may suit thier
fancy.
IF a maddening uproar We're the worst
feature of these ass1mblages, the exhibition
would be disgusting. \ well-educated
monkey would be ashamed to claim kindred
with the crowd of believing savages. But
mutilation and bloodshed are inevitable
accomplishments of unbridled passions
worked up TO fever heat. To throw a can
| non-ball into the air. and allow it to deccnd
| with 4 crash on the bare skull. or to run
full tilt against wall, are little acts of per-
sonal devotion which attest 4 good
Eisowy Sometimes, again, their piety
takes the form of hacking themselves with
knives, or of rushing into the street and
dealing blows haphazard among the luck
less passengers. But i'll whatever way
their fcrvor finds vent, is sure to be
noisy, savage, and filthy. A man who cats
live snakes may be excused for being a
| tritle eccentric. lie is not to be judged by
the standard of other men. Who can tell
what mouth of this diet might do for the
most polished beau? 1t is awful to contem-
| plate what a pound OF two Of rlndigested
serpent might tempt the inoffensive man to