The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-20
THE Hal.
The Pilgrimage Of tho Shah to tho Shrine Of
Kerbeia-The Legend OF Hosein-
Hajees and Haj-Life.

dajees anu daJ-Lues
The pilgrimage or 'hajn which the Shah OF Persia
has announced his intention OF making to the shrine
OF Hosein, at KerDea, brings strkingly before the
notice OF the world one OF the most interesting OF
Moslem legends.
In the DIM past OF the seventh century, and only
short half century after the eyes OF the Prophet
had been sealed in DEATH occurred the tragedy the
memory Of which the Shah Is now about TO piously
recognize. At his death Mohammed out OF the nine
children that had been borne to him by Cadljah and
the Egyptian Mary left but surviving daughter
the saintcd Fatma-whom, with paternal fondness,
he had named as one OF the four perfect women
who had ever existed-thus placing her
upon an equality OF dignity with the sister OF
Moses the mother OF Jesus Christ and his first wife,
Cadijah. This daughter married ALI, who lives In
Moslem annals as The Lion OF God Mohammed, up
to the very moment OF his decease, declined to
name successor to the Caliphate, ana he had
scarcely been borne to the tomb when his followers
began to quarrel among themselves as to who
should ascend the throne that had been
founded by the Apostle OF God Many
OF the Mussulmans were in favor of All,
but Abubeklr finally selected. He reigned but
two years, and bequeathcd his scepter to Omar
Omar after reign Of twelve years, persisted by the
hand OF an assassin. by this time the claims or All
to the Caiphatc, springing from his personal integ-
rity and holiness, his early and devoted adhesion 10
Islam, ana more than all from his alliance by mar
riagc with the very blood OF the Prophet, had come
to be regarded by many OF the Mussumans as sacred
But the intrgues Of Airs enemies elevated Othman
to the throne. In these internal divisions
was the seed Of an undyng feud which soon cuiml-
mated bloody strife among the faithful and which
has ever since divided the Moslem world into Two
III n nd
The former believe the divine justice OF the claims
OF All and OF the offsprng which the daughter OF
Mohammed bore 10 him 10 the sceptre OF Islam. All
Persans hold to this creed. The Turks the other
hand, exclusively Soonnees aud refuse to credit
In any way the superior sancty Of Ali. All, having
succeeded Gilman, died in the fulness OF years.
Shortly after his death Yezid. by the intrgues
OF Amron, was proclaimed Callph, but
Hoslen, the son OF AL tempted by the
promised allegiance OF 10000 Mesopotamian Mus
sulmans, determined to contest the throne. At.
tended by his women and children he traversed the
desert OF Arabia and at last reached Kerbea, few
miles from Cufa, on the banks OF the Euphrates. He
had already learned that the insurrection which he
was to have headed had been suppressed;
but he had pushed on with the unthinking
gailantry that distinguished his house. On the
treeless plain OF Kerbela he was suddenly, sur
conference which he had with Its leaders, he learned
that the only means OF saving his life was to surren-
der Internationally as captive. To this condition
| he Indignantly refused TO assent. All through the
night before the attack. OF which he well knew his
lie the CHIEF aim, he prepared himself by prayer
and meditation for the thrust OF DEATH With char
acieristc generosity he nplored his friends TO leave
| him. but they unanimously refused. In the morn
ing he mounted his horse, sword in one hand and
the Koran In the other. and headed his scanty band
OF fol overs VINO numbered in all but seventy-two.
The enemy advanced but one OF their chiefs, with
thirty a6hefents deserted TO the side OF Hosein,
spite OF the hopeessncss OF his cause. One by ono
the followers OF Hesen were stricken down, until
last he was literally left alone. His sister Fatma
then rushed from The tent and impl0red the leader
OF his foes TO spare the life OF descendant or the
Prophet But her enlreaties fell upon ears seeled TO
every feeling Of generosity or pity, and Hosen was
mcrcllessly murdered by. three and thirty thrusts
OF lance and sword, and his ife.ess corpse defiled
by the feet Of his assalants. HIS head TO
Cufa and the Governor OF the town struck the cold
| mouth with Suck. "Aiasp' cried an aged Mussul-
man. ION these lips have seen the lips OF the Apos
This is the story OF Hosein. The Persians have,
since MS murder, commemorated its anniversary by
solemn fast, and for twelve hundred years have
regarded visit to the site or his tragic end az an
act OF religious duty. Unfortunately, Kerbela has
always been within the Turkish Ines, and the Per-
right OF going there. The exact Site OF the
massacre Is covered with what is said to be,
after Mecca and the mosque OF 81. Sophia the hand
soonest OF Mosem lanes. Its gilt domes, flashing IN
| the fierce light OF Arabian sun, may he seen
Tower OF Babel or The BIrs Nemroud, But none b u,
Moslen, with one or TWO exceptions has dared To
| visit 1t.
or late years the moderation OF the Porte has re-
duced the 'hai'' tax TO bagatclle OF twenty-five
| has ever been growing larger. Kerbela Is only
| seventy miles rom Bagdad, and that city Is there
fore the last hating place OF the haJees. the Guy
| OF the Caphs never holds less than 5000 or
| these pious wanderers. and just before Baram.
the great Mohamnedan festival, It is filled with
| travel on donkies or mules; only the poorer sort
| make shit with horses which are infinitely less Wen
Gnaled to bear the haIdsnips Of thousand miles
| agned than the road between Bagdad and
kerbea, crowded for perhaps thirty or forty
class OF Eastern life hobnobs together with the easy
familiarity Of ARABIAN Nights" society. The mass
| of pilgrims plcd steadily along ut walk, the man
seated upon the top Of his baggage on the back OF
| mule gravely smoking sebeel or loudly recing, in
nasal accents, the daily chapter OF the Koran, and
q curious couple OF wooden cages, balan-
cling each other and containing each a
| favorre wife. Some elements OF The crowd
| however, are more striking. Old men, with limbs
already shaking IN the tnroes OF death, and with
| fakeers grmy with the dirt and animated vita tue
| vermn OF a three years pilgrimage with beard and
hair unkenspt aud features fixed In the rigid lines
| OF religious fanaticism; rich men, with long reti-
| nues Of armed followers and eunucls and concu-
/! bines ana an endless tram OF sumpter mules ana
occasionally the swarthy face OF iindoo or Malay
Moseul--these now and then catch the curious eye
| OF the Christian wayIarer. The pilgrim life
| OF these numadic saints must be, however, one Of
the brightest episodes III their earthly career SO
far as spectator can Judge they are ali perfectly
happy as indeed the fresh air. the ample exercise,
the novelty of continual change and the bliss OF
consciously being i'll tho path OF heaven, may well
! make them IL is not dlilicut after having watched
! these Mussulman pamers to understand the readi-
ness with winch The Christian sinner OF medieval
| tunes undertook q long and peilous journey TO
! Rome the Holy Sepucnre.
Tne present Shan is currently reported in The East
| TO he a somewhat lax Mussulman. ana perhaps hts
pilgrimage Is intended TO Increase his popularity by
coDclllaing the religious preiudces OF his subjects.
| But whateyermay be his motive for making the maj,
IL seems pretty clear that the Sultan intends TO inl
| prove the occasion by display OF the most impos-
| ing and lavish hospitality, The Shah Will come
down from his capital to the shore OF the Persian
Gulf, attended by an enormous retinue. Arrived at
lie VIII deliver himself into the hands oil
Turkish authorities. who have large steamer
| the Babel vessel that, Under another name,
at one time formed part oil the mail fleet OF an Eng
| llsh company between Panama and Australia wait
ing to receive him. In this he VIII be conveyed as
far Bassorai, at the mouth OF the Shat OF ARAB as
the river formed oy the Junction OF the Tgris and
Euphraes Is namedl, and then, having been trans
ferred 10 Il smaller steamer he VIII be carried up the
lieris to the City OF the Caliphs. lie VIII there