St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-06

violently opposed by many, and espe-
clally by Ayesha, the favorite wife of
the Prophet, bis bitter enemy. The
party of Ayesha prevailed, and her own
father, Abu Bekr, was chosen Caliph.
On the death of Abu Bekr, the claims
of Ali were again urged by his ad-
herents, but without success, and Omar,
and afterwards Othman succeeded to
the Caliphate. All this while the breach
in the ranks of the faithful had been
growing wider, and when, on the mur-
der of Gilman, Ali was elected fourth
Caliph, it became evident that it could
never be healed.
The two sons of Ali, Hassan and
HOsein, had not the courage or fortune
of their father, and the elder was forced
to resign his Caliphate, to which he had
been elected on the death of Ali, while
the unfortunate Hosein was cruelty
murdered by order of the son of
MOawyah, the usurper, the blood thirsty
Yezed. Thus ended the hopes of the
house of Ali, the immediate descend
ants of the Prophet.
The Mohammedans of Persia were
the Jealous adherents of the family of
Ali, and their great yearly festival is
that commemorative of the untimely
death of the poor Hosein. The lamen-
tatiOn, for it can hardly be called a
festival or a fast, lasts for ten days,
during which time the people give
themselves up to the most extravagant
manifestations of grief and mourning.
All private woes are forgotten in the
general sorrow. AS they think of the
wrongs of their venerated Hassan, as
they remember the cruelties inflicted
on the devout Hosein, "Oh, Hassan
Oh, Hosein !" bursts from every lip
while they beat their breasts, tear their
hair, and put dust on their heads.
For days Hosein was shut off from
water, and many of the devOut wor-
shippers deny themselves every thing
to relieve their thirst for ten days.
Hosein received an arrow in his mouth,
''the mouth which, by Allah ~ said an
aged grief-stricken Arab, Il have seen
on the lips of the Prophet !''--his head
and his body were pierced with thirty
three wounds, and many devOtees will
cut themselves with knives and swords
to express their grief, and to be like the
venerated martyr.
On the anniversary of the murder,
the 10th of the month MOharram, theiI
expressions of grief become most frantic
1t was on the evening of that day that
went few weeks ago, to the Valide
Khan in StambOul, to witness theiI
ceremonies. The Persians and the
Turks belong to the two opposite sects
of Islam, the Shutes, and the SOnnites
the former recognizing the claims OF
Ali as the lawful successor of the
Prophet, and hence regarding the three
first Caliphs, Abu Bekr, Omar and
Othman as usurpers, and revering the
memory of HOsein-the latter regard
ing the sOn-in-law of the Prophet as
inferior to his predecessors, and Hoseir
as little better than an infidel, who suf-
fered justly for his crimes.
Thus it has happened that the Per.
slams and the Turks have always beer
bitter enemies, and in times past bloo(
has often flowed in the streets of Con.
stantinOple in quarrels between the two
hostile factions. 1t is regarded as !
matter of so much importance that the
courts of the Shah and Sultan, contains
the injunction, that no Persian shal
revile the name or memory of Abb
Bekr, Omar and Othman.
The celebrating of which have beer
speaking, naturally arouses the enmit!
of the two parties, and great care i
taken on the part of the authorities tha
no outbreak occurs.
Since | first heard of the ceremony o
|
anxious to see it, and so was very gla,
to accept the invitation of one of on
Armene-Persian students to accOmpan
him. Very unfortunately, however, W
were too late to join the party of til
Persian Consul, as had been planne,
for us, and we only arrived at the gat
of the Khan to find it shut. 1t opene
shortly after to admit the procession c
devotees, but closed Immediately be
hind them, and we seemed destined t
lose it all. About half an hour aftel
however, in another part of the city,
procession passed us, performing tn
same ceremonies that were taking plac
inside the Khan. 1t was Brilliant
lighted by huge torches, as the nigh
was very dark. A litter was borne o
the shoulders of men, to carry the bod
of the murdered Hosein. A horse fol
lowed, decorated with swords pOintin
outward in all directions, and then an
other on which was a little child,
represent, 1 suppose, Abdallah, the lii
tie son of Hosein, who was killed i
the arms of his unhappy father.
Then followed two lines of abou
fifty men each, facing each other abou
eight feet apart, and walking sidewis'
Their heads were shaven, they wei
clothed with a long white robe, reach
ing down to their feet, and each held
: drawn sword in his hand. AS the
! passed slowly along, they were swayin