Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-05
MOSLEM METHODS.
The Khalifate, About Which So Much is
Written, Simply an Idle Dream
in the East.
The Hedjaz Arabs - Their Fiendish
Hatred OF Christians-The Festi-
val at Tantah.
New York Herald.

Eastern world for several centuries very Lit.
tie timber could be furnished out of which
to erect the oriental structures of which
Arab seemingly dreams. OF course he has
made the Moslem world believe in his ardor
patriotism and religious devotion; and this
is why the authorities in Constantinople
have been SO lukewarm in staying the cop-
fusion in government and popular rioting oil
the last lew weeks in Egypt. That Arab
can retire to the Soudan with a considerable
force, that he can there nourish them
and find a population in sympathy with
his aims, there is no doubt; for it is now
more than half century since a resolute
man with weapons has had even a tenn
porary hold among the modern Egyptians
and their provincial subjects. Any one we'll
acquainted with a man OF Arabs nature in
the Esst-and it is phenomenal-would
readily declare that he will do the best thing
for himself, cost what it may. 1t has been
given out that this bold adventurer despised
the career of Napoleon /; yet it is true
throughout Egypt that the life of no man is
more constantly studied and pondered upon
than that OF the first consul. 1t was and has
been for years the strange infatuation of beys
and pashas, and doubtless now Arab is only
playing very deep game, the result of
which few weeks will tragically illustrate
The different elements of the populatio will
then, when the final settlement comes, ex-
hibit what is pure and what is foul among
the Moslem people. If, as now appears
the Hedjaz Arabs are religiousIy aroused,
there must be exciting times.
They are class of devout Arabs who visit
the various Moslem festivals, and who are
very superior and clearly men, true aristo-
Gratis Of the East, and imbued with a healthy
caste feeling, which does no particular harm
IN countries 80 little advanced as Egypt.
These men-the Hedjsz Arabs-claim to be
direct descendants of Mohammed. 1t should
be said, however, that these chiefs number
many thousands, and that the father of the
Moslem faith must have been very prolific
progenitor If one in thousand Of these
gentry speak the truth. 1t remains however,
that they are foe specimens of manhood.
Their persons are daIntily clean; they wear
the choicest fabrics that can be found in
Arabia, and their flowing garments are
handled with Unborn grace. They have
white teeth, piercing black eyes, a Saracen
cast of features seldom seen in this century,
and an erect naughty and magisterial car
rage. The Herald correspondent travelled
up the Red sea from Jeddab, the port of
Mecca, with a little company of these aristo-
Gratis on their way to Tantah. The chief
was one of the Arabian ulemas, claiming a
direct descent from Mohammed, and prided
himself upon the superior sanctity and birth
OF his family. He was a man of no mean in
tellectual requirements, and his mind was
luminous and strong. The subject of mas
saeres came up for discussion because but 4
short time before the christians residing in
Jeddah had been by very carefully planned
conspiracy, and without single note OF
warning, promiscuously and most brutally
slaug entered in the dead of night. They had
not even the slightest premonition of their
fate, as at the Damascus massacres, but were
found in their beds and stabbed, shot and
beaten 10 death-men, women and children.
When asked the reason of this iendish
hatred of the European the chief, Mahomet,
said: "You christians send your toothless
and ignorant and unclean missionaries
among our people to unsettle our established
faith. They are degraded specimens of man.
hood, who cannot compare in physique with
our teachers of the Koran, who must be
lean in body and soul; and we say if this
De the product OF christianity We will have
lone of it. Thus our people IN and about
he holy cities do not view with any kind
hess your emissaries, but oftentimes there |
zones government action of some European |
'ower which inaames the Moslem races, and |
I gives rise to these unhappy outbursts of |
ellgious passion. You can see, therefore, |
hat we are not all to blame, although mar
er is expressly prohibited by the Koran.
dohammed says 10 us: IF you meet
n unbeliever say TO him, you have
our religion, / have mine,' 30 that
one of our devout teachers ever in
ulcate the idea of massacre" This
octrine is undoubtedly taught by the relig-
BUS sheiks OF the best birth and standing
Arabia and Northern and East
IN Africa; and many cases can be recited
here the bold speech and interference of
faslem priest has saved a christian or
ew at the time of general massacre.
Wholesale assassinations like those at Alex
ndris, Tantah, and formerly at Damacus
nd Jeddah, reveal some of the noblest of
naracters, both among the Mussulmans and
on both sides of de-
oted personal friendship and sacrifice
ierefore, even to death. In all Eastern
lassacres the two iucentIves-fanaticisma and
generally been the twin mo-
We that have found expression at the hands
some military miscreant and his band OF
,mpathizers. But the body of Turkish
entry in Egypt, with their many oriental
ices, are a humane and kindly people in
me OF profound peace, and when their pri-
ate ends are not thwarted.
The riotous character of the religious fes-
walls at Tantah, for instance, readily iudi-
ties the character of resident population
AIRED in their midst and where the massa-
es recorded took place. While these
,semblies are convened every species
y
revail. The plain of Tantah presents
of hilarity, of heterogeneous mirih,
wild disorder, of picturesque costume, and
mixture of races never seen in any other
art of the Eastern world. The impromptu
izaars contain everything that can be found
here the pilgrims live, from fruit and food
elaborate costumes for the sheiks, der
shes, and kadis. Vast sums of money are
ways brought to these festivals, the pill
4 |
,out the waist, TO escape the plumber always
evalent in the camp. On one occasion,
hen 200 pilgrims from Tunis, on board
hooner in the harbor of Alexandria and
'und for Tanta b, came into collision with |
outgoing steamer and then sunk, nearly
were lost because OF the weight Of coin
ntained in the belts about their persons.
ne large outlay of money by the pilgrims
avs nearly every itinerant show
an, juggler, acrobat, and rope-dan-
r to Tsntah. Thither 60, too, the
hwazee, the dancing girls OF upper Egypt, I
10 claim the most ancient lineage in the
nd of tine Pharaohs Every traveller along
e Nile has witnessed their singulsrly
aceful and metrican dancing, commencing {
tn slow and voluPtuous movements to the
atipg of the castinet and their rude instru-
snts, and gradually becoming more wild
d violent until their movements are among {
most exciting Exhibitions ever performed
female dancers. Maddened eventually I
arski, they keep up a ceaselsss whirling ,
d swaying, bowling and backing, until /
ally the fantaseer terminates only when ,
~ are physically exhausted. Jugglers +
m Bagdad, serpent-charmers who handle ,,
ge Central African reptiles with fsmili- :
ty that makes the blood run cold, rope
ncers, and story-tellers reciting the i
thousand and One Nights" diversity this
snge theater of revelry and fanaticism.
ntah, this typical centre of fanaticism, !
thai is a strange city, and it is remarkable
At 70 few writer's have ever studied its
rious attractions. Yet this may be doubt
9 due to its forbidding character as a holy,
and unclean city. :
The destruction of Cairo, believed in by 4
. Turks of Constantinople, would be
ayy blow to them. The rulers, civil and
litary, Of Egypt are Turks, and they have
e houses in Cairo and large wealth. Alex
dria was Levantine city. Should Cairo a
destroyed many Turkish grandees would v
der in that pocket which is no less dear to e
son OF the crescent than to The son OF the v
lss.
Questions and Answers. ii
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hat medicine is proving itself to be of miracu- s.
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non Bitters-
Agnosfic Poetry. il
London News. [;