Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-08-28
THE BIRTH OF THE PROPHET.

CoAeUfaClOA VI HtlCe OF MOslem Fanatlclsm.
Correspondence of the 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 a religious character that is,
all the spectacles of the v eek 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 Islam in Egypt, and the Moolid
or natal festival there is much the most
noted one. its browning performance,
the dosa or trampling, is not observed
elsewere, and>annually attracts vast con-
course to witness this triumph of fanat-
icism and barbarity.
The dosa always takes place at 1
o'clock P. NJ, as the shiekh and the de-
voices must all pray in the great mosque
precisely at noon, the shiekh 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 OF four deep, backed up
to vide, street.-The space, several hund
red yards long, in which the devotees 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
i'll a 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 he very religious.
At last the devotees appeared i'll IL body,
chanting and swaying 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 ale in religious frenzy through the
greatness of their faith and the intensity
of their devotions in tue mosque. But
unbelicvers roundly assert that large
part of the devotions consists in getting
themselves we'll under the influence Ct
hasheesb. 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
es of society, and this remark will apply
to any Moslem procession that I have ev:
er seen. Our carriage driver said he had
claim down" three times.
The horse which the sheikh 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. He was about tic ordinary
size, and in very fine condition. Many
attendants accompanied the sheikh. He
held the. reins, but was himself held in
he saddle by two or three grasping him
on each side. He was an old man, and
one might have supposed his neck broken
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 overpowering his
body. When he reached the end Of the
line Of devotecs there was delay. When
all was in readiness two men supported
the shelkh 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 bodies, and then
the rocking of the old shlekn was pain
full to see. Just as soon as the horse
passed, those who had been ~tramped
were jerked 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 in6dcls. It
is horrible sight, which few would wish
to witness a second time. And when
looked over the $4,000 persons who had
given It the countenance and encourage
ment Of their presence, I felt conscience
stricken that we had swelled the number.
That afternoon. in conversation with one
OF the most intelligent native men in the
country, inquired what would be the ef-
feet If all Franks and native Christians
would severely let the Aloslems alone"
s.Nothing they so much desire! It is
abominable to them that Christians can
witness the mysteries Of their religion y
DR.. Hogg confirmed this, saying. that our
presence diminished instead Of increas-
ing their enthusiasm.
The dosa is mere tradition, not COM
manded In the Koran. Moslems say that
when Mohammed was flying from Mecca
tn Medina ho u,oo c, o1nco1u 1o,,re,,o1 fio%