The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-12-09
MISCELLANY.
THE rILGRIMs AT CAIRO.

Every Mohammed is bound under certain
condition to make pilgrimage to Mecca at
least once before he dies, and none but minors,
slaves or lunatcs are exempted from the OBJ
legation. According to some doctors Of the
ology, however, only such of the faithful as
have health, and money for their expenses on
the road and for-the support of their families
while they are absent, are bound to go; OH
ers hold every Moammedan under obligation
if he is able to walk and earn his bread on the
way; Others again, think it sufficient in GER
tain cases to send substitute, whose expens-
cs must be paid by the person sending. How
ever this may be- the pilgrimage takes place
every year with unfailing regularity, the car
avans forming near Cairo, and thence pro-
ceeded to the Holy City" On the return
from Mecca the birth day of Mohammed is eel
cbrated at Cairo with peculiar ceremonies
The dcrvishcs and pilgrims congregate in i'm
mcnse numbers, the gathering not being UNI
like that of n fair ground, save for one thing
that there are no Intoxicating liquors sold.
There is plenty Of intoxication, however, but
religious intoxication, the people being all
raving mad with fanaticism Here dervishes
of all orders dance, howl, and cut themselves
until they fall down foaming at the mouth in
fit of religious frenzy being with difficulty
kept from starting afresh and running muck
amidst the spectators. On the last day takes
place the doseh. ~ took up my position
early,' writes the artist, $50 as to obtain a
view of the ceremony. First passed in sepa-
70 ata ,a,t ha can IF tla
orders, headed by banners, all screaming,
bowling, and dancing wildly, many being with
out their turbans, their heads being exposed
to the burning sun. After all had passed, the
devotces laid themselves down side by side,as
close as possible to each other, and face down
ward, volunteers from the crowd of specta-
tors rushing forward to range them symmet-
REALLY, so that their feet might fall in one
straight line Others kindly waved their
loose garments over the PROSTATE bodies to
give them little air. Soon more dervishes
and more banners appeared, and walked over
the human pathway, and then came the Sheik
of the Saadieh on his milk white horse. The
animal was led over the backs of the poor
wretches, but appeared to use the greatest care
III pldciDS HIS lcet, us tHDupii trying 10 tfcdu
as lightly as possible. The Shel wore the
green turban, showing that he had performed
! the pilgrimage to Mecca and rode with his
eyes closed as though in trance. The num-
Der of men thus ridden over amounted to near
ly three hundred, and no sooner had the horse
passed than their friends rushed forward to
assist them to rise, many of the devotces be-
ing severely injured, while others were sense
less, not from any actual bodily injury, but
merely from the religious excitement" The
doseh dates from the close of the last century,
in the days of one Sheik Younis, who is said
to have possessed the power of riding over
glass without breaking it. Afterward it be-
came the custom to ride over fanatic dervish-
es, who believed that the horse would not
hurt them--those injured being not sufficient
ly prepared for the occasion by prayer and
faith.