The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-02-20
A CHASTITY Dance.

GhaBtly Dance.
Recently the Persian residents of
ConstantinopIo celebrated their annual
expiatory festival in oommemoration of
tho death Of the great Imans Hussan and
Hassein, the sons of the Prophet Ali.
1t was about the most extraordinary
spectacle that human eye could b behold
In the immense circular court of tho
Valide caravansary at Stamboul dozen
altars, madesplondid with blazing lights
had been erected. Chairs placed all
around this enclosure had been reserved
for the Persian Ambassador and various
Persian. Turkish and European digni-
taries.
The solemnity began at sunset with
an allegorical procession. A child five
or six years old led the van on horse
back; he was entirely clad in black and
upheld bronze cup in his right hand.
Then came some twonty young boys on
foot. They were also clad In black and
also carried bronzed cups. They walked
two by two. Then came two horses
led by the bride-and bearing trophy
composed of antique weapons, together
with two scimetars disposed in the form
of n crescent; while the other was cov-
cred with q white cloth all bespattere,l
with blood.
Tho procession moved to the sound of
sobbing music, uttered by flies, clar-
ionettes, tambourines and cymbaIs; and
was marshalled by the bearers ofsacred
standards.
After 1t had male tce turn of enclos-
rre, another procession of some sixty
Believers, all clad in white and brand
ishing naked scimctnrs and cutasses,
joined it.
Finally third procession from n
neighboring caravansnry entered to take
its place at the head of tho first two.
First Of these came number Of persons
naked to tho waist, MI whipping them
selves with scourges formed of small
iron chains; next appeared, carried by
four Persians, u small tabernacle oov-
cred with woven stuff of gaudy colors,
III which small child was borne; aud
lastly about n hundred persons all strik-
ing their naked breasts with thoir
clonohed fists.
All these people circled about tho
count, all tho whllo invoking the names
OF Hnssan mud Hussein; but at once the
scene changed from merely curious
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improvisations or lamentations viii oh
were reoited i'll lugubrious tone by
certain inspired brethren, and which
form portion of the richest Persian
literature-6ll tho penitents began to
redouble tn eit> blows. Then few mon
began to strike themselves upon tho
head md shoulders with tho edge Ct
their steel weapons; the cha,n -scourges
tore tho naked shoulders of others; and
blood flowing Oh all sides commenced
to dye the white robes crimson. Soon
the excitement reached its climax: the
moving circle changed to q furious
whirlwind.
Ihen tho sclmetacs rose and fell with
frightful rapidly, each timo gashing Il
skull or n shoulder: the iron disciplines
fell with deal aud sickonlng sound
upon torn flesh; several penitents rolled
dying upon the ground. They wore
carried out cf the circle; and the
whirl continues its savage way. H.
Illuminated by tho wind-shaken altar
lights, and ruddy glaro of the many blaz-
ing fagots placed around the inclosure--
the scene was hidcously impressive. It
might have been taken for an orgie Of
furious demons, red with blood, yelling,
leaplng, rising, and still turning, turn
ing. turning III the ghnstly dance had
soen enough; and fled, siok at heart
with horror and disgust.