The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-01-21
FIRE WORShIPERS.


A Native of 70 orosster's Birthplace Talks
An Interesting Interview Concerning
the Religion of Porsia.
Persia, where the Good Book sayd
Noah's ark first rested, stands the an
cient city of Oroomian, the birthplace
of Zoroaster, father of the fire worship
ers. Believing that chat with a ma
tive OF that far-off place would prove
interesting, a reporter called upon Rev.
Benjam Eshoo, who is now tempor-
arii y residing in Detroit, Mich.
"Are there many sun or fire worship
ers in Persia ?" tho reporter asked.
GA few. There are great many in
Afghanistau, and some still left in
Oroomian."
"Can you tell me anything about
thoir Worship" "I know little about
their religion except what I have seen
with my own eAes. They worship the
sun as their Supreme god, and fire in
any form bears some relation to their
god. Diamonds are holy with them.
Fourteen years ago 1 saw what
I see a correspondent calls o Mo
hammedan miracle. He dil not know
what he was writing about. This OF
which speak took place in Oroomian.
Five members of society Of fire wor-
shippers went into blazing big fire,
and remained several minutes without
being burned or scorched. A great
many persons assembled to see the
sight. Tho shkek, .who is priest
among the fire worshipers, sat or
kneeled upon small piece of carpet,
and mumbled prayer or incantation in
a language which no person but himself
could understand. As soon as he began
the five men, naked, except girdle
about the waist, walked into the fire and
stood tl.,re swaJing their b dies to and
fro. The fire was made of large sticks
of wood, and was very hot A large
sheet of copper, which had been heated
red like blood, was In the fire, and this
they took up and put upon their heads.
They remained in the fire until the
sheik stopped praying, when they came
quickly out.
"Do you not think the five men ap-
piled some chemical to the skin which
prevented the fire from burning them p
az do not see how that could be. Not
0NCa bntlI udll vi DDdiho WcIo bCOICutU.
We were all astonished."
"Did the fire worshipers make
many converts out OF this miracle?'
"Not one."
"Have you many newspapers in Per
sia ?" "Oh, yes, some. Oroomian has
10000 inhabitants, and there are two
weekly papers published there. They
sell for pannabat per copy. A panna-
bat is equal to between eight and ten
cents"
"Has Oroomiah mayor or q COVER
nor who is under the pasha?"
"Yes, and his word is law. II he
say, Take off that mans head it
comes off,"
"How do you punish crimes in Per-
sia?"
"Well, if you steal something, the
first time they strip your feet bare and
tie them to stick. Then you are
whipped on the naked feet until you
swoon away. The second time one Of
your hands will be cut of, and you are
fined a lot of money. The third time
another hand comes of, and the fourth
time your head. For some crimes they
lay a man in hole in the earth, and,
pressing open his jaws, pour melted
lead down his throat, which kills him
quick"
Mr.. Eshoo is very interesting and
earnest gentleman, whose mission here
is to secure help for the famishing peo.
pie OF Persia. He is about thirty five
years of age, and acquired his educa
tion at st Augustin's college. -Ner
York Express.