The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-08-28
THE BIRTH OF THE PROPHET.

Celebration Of Rite Of Moslem Fanaticism.
corIespondeos Of tho New York Observer.
The anniversary of the birth Of the
prophet is carefully observed by the Mos
lens Of Egypt. They do it by keeping a
festival of whole week, giving to this
week the name of the birth or the time
of the birth. Their feasting, however, is
largely Of religious character is,
all ting spectacles of the week are general.
ly Connected with religion. These al.
ways take place in the open air or in tents
erected in some wide, open space on the
outskirts of the city. Cairo is the strong
hold Of f:Islam in Egypt, and the Moolid
or natal festival there is much the most
noted one. Its crowning performance,
the dosa or trampling, is not observed
elsewere, and annually attracts vast con-
course to witness this triumph of f;,nat-
icism and barbarity.
The dosa always takes place ut
O'Clock p. NJ, as the shiekh and the de-
voices must all pray in the great mosque
precisely at noon, the shickh continuing
long enough for the dcvotees to reach the
ground and take position before his ar
rival. We went early and yet VIC found
ourselves compelled to stop behind a row
OF carriages, three or four deep, backed up
to wide, street.-The space, several hund
red yards long, in which the devotces were
to be laid. Soldiers were every where
present to preserve the line, but when the
carriages Of the viceroy's family and those
of the various great pashas drove up, they
were conducted inside the street and
ranged two and three deep along the
SIDES. Each carriage contained two rich
ly-dressed ladies. their faces covered with
Swiss kerchiefs, in the Turkish fashion,
which displays their magnificent black
eyes in the most coquettish manner. The
viceroy himself drove down about noon
in very dashing style. and was conduct
ed to handsome tent which had been
placed for him. He had not attended
for long time previously, but it is now
his policy to be very religious.
At last the devotees appeared in body,
chanting and swaylng their bodies as if
unable to be still. Friends accompanied
them and assisted them to stand. The
impression they desire to make is that
they arc in RELIGIOUS frenzy through the
greatness of their faith and the intensity
of their dcvotions i'll the mosque. But
unbclicvers roundly assert that large
part of the devotiops consists in getting
themselves we'll under the influence cf
hashecsb. They were laid one by one in
the middle of the street, their faces down
ward, resting on their arms and as close
ly packed as possible. We supposed
they numbered between 800 and 400.
All of them belonged to the lowest class
cs Of society, and this remark will apply
to any Moslem procession that have cv-
er seen. Our carriage driver said he had
"lain do~n" three times.
The horse which the shcikh rides is
kept on purpose for this use. The great.
est care and attention is lavished upon
him, and his sacred back never bears any
other rider. Hc was about the ordinary
size, and in very fine condition. Many
attendants accompanied the shcikh. He
held the reins, but was himself held in
the saddle by two Or three grasping him
on each side. He was an old man, and
one might have supposed his neck broker
| from the manner IN which his head rolled
from side to side. This is to indicate
that his thoughts are in heaven, and that
his elevation OF soul is overpowcring his
body. When he reached the end Of the
line of tlcvotecs there was delay. When
| all was in readiness two men supported
| the shcikh and four men took hold of the
bride. two on each side, and literally
pulled the unwilling animal over the
backs of the victims. Sometimes his feet
would slip between the botl,cs, and then
the rocking of the old shiekh was pain.
tul to see. Just as soon as the horse
! passed, those who had been trampcd
| were jerkcd up and carried off into tents
If theil faith is strong they cannot be
hurt, but some of these cried out in great
pain, and were Immediately cursed by
Moslcm bystanders for infidcls. Il
! is horrible sight, which few would wish
to witness second time. And when
looked over the $4,000 persons who hat
given it the countenance and encourage
mcnt Of their presence, I felt conscience
| stricken that we had swcllcd the number
That afternoon, in conversation with ont
OF the most Intelligent native men in thu
country, inquired what would bc the eff
feet If all Franks and native Christians
would "sevcrcly let the Moslcms alone.
"Nothing they SO much desire! 1t il
| abominable to them that Christians Car
witness the mysteries of their religion.
DR.. Hogg confirmed this, saying that ou
presence diminished instead Of increas
ing their enthusiasm.
The dosa is mere tradition, not com
mandcd in the Koran. Moslcns say tina
when Mohammcd was flying from Mccc'
to Mcdina,hc was SO closely pursued tha
he could not have escaped had not hi
followers laid down and allowed him t,
ride over them. Perhaps not many be
lievc this tradition, but the honor of Is
lam would oe impugned if it were not ev
cry year repeated Ill their great city.
| Milking.
The faster and more gentle L COW i
MIXED, the greater will he the amour
given. Slow mixers always gradual,
dry up COW, and for the reason that i
the milk he not drawn about as fast as il
is given down it will subsequently bs
withheld and that withheld "a as q mat