Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-06-01
A FEAST OF BLOOD.
The Extraordinary Kites Conducted
by Coles Arabs.
From the St. Louis Post Dispatch.


Probably the most extraordinary re-
ligious rite ever performed in this city
took place at the Fair Grounds yester-
day morning at sun rise. The inter-
ested parties were the Bedouin Arab
athletes, brought here last Friday for
w. w. Coles Circus, now showing at
Nineteenth and Pine streets. 1t was
noticed then that these sinewy sons of
the deserS, who had thrown pieces of
gold into the sea at the New York har-
Dor, after Offering up the necessary
prayers, still had q further ceremony to
go through IN order to complete their
thanks offerings, and fully propitiate
Allah and his prophet Mohammed for
their sale deliverance in this country.
Nothing more than the mere statement
of the intention could be obtained, and
indeed the Arabs hesitated in giving
any information whatever upon the
subject, even to any Of the circus at
taches. Mr.. Coles agents were anxious
that the feast, or whatever it might be
called, should take place in public, that
the show might thereby gain the bene-
fit of the advertising that would follow
such an event, but the Arabs stubborn
ly refused to have the ceremony
conducted in public, and would
say nothing about the matter to
anybody except Ernest Cook, the clown,
IN whose keeping they journeyed to
this country from the Holy Land. Moth
ing more was known or said about the
affair until Saturday night, when the
Arabs returned to the city from Cape
Girardeau, Then they told Mr.. Cook
that yesterday being the ninth day after
their arrival here, the ceremony should
take place then, and the old circus
headquarters al the Fair Grounds
should be the scene of the goings on.
The party went to the ground Saturday
night, taking along lamb, some figs,
and Il sackful of the material for their
feast. AT sunrise yesterday morning
they were all at the edge Of the lake in
the Fair Grounds, and, barring their
heads to the rising orb, they took water
in the palms of their hands and sprink-
led their faces. Sheik Abdallah Ben
Said then led in prayer, and after few
minutes spent standing at the edge of
the lake, with their IA res turned to the
sun and their voices lifted in a dirge-
like chant, they moved i'll procession
to the hall devoted to the exhibition Of
machinery. Closing and barring the
dOors, with no Caucasian save Cook near
them, they went through the final rites.
On block placed in position on the
earthen fl Dor of the hall the little lamb
with its legs tied, was resting. Around
the block, sat eleven Arabs, barefooted
~ hornha,I-l IT, 4
the temporary altar, and bearing long
knife, pointed it to the east and made
prayer, then laid the knife at the
throat of the lamb, but did not cut.
At this the eleven Arabs raised q
shout as of Joy, and the Shi.k
lifted the knife from tbs vic
tim. Presenting the blade to
him, each sitting Arab kissed it nutter-
ing something after the salusatiou.
List of all, the Sheik kissed the knife,
and then drew it across the throat of
the lamb and in moment the red
blood was flowing. Taking some in
his hands, the Sneik sprinkled the
Arabs with the red fluid, and another
shout OF Joy went up. Next lifting
the lamE In his arms the Shsik carried
it to eact Arab, and each, holding his
Joined pans under the stream, caught
a quantity of tfe blood, which was first
slipped and then dashed in the face.
Every man was served in this way, the
Sneik taking the last drsught and re-.
ceiving the last CORY sprinkling him
self after depositing the dying lamb on
the block. A quantity of figs were
next sprinkled with the blood, and
then, the block being removed, a fire
was built IN the middle of the circle
and the figs placed therein to roast.
While the cooking process was going
forward, each Arab, with knife taken
from his belt. dug hole in the ground
behind him, and, wrapping god dol
ar and silver ten-cent piece together
n a white cloth, placed these, with a
small green feather, in the earth and
covered them up as they sang. The
roasted figs were partaken of with still
bloody faces and the sheik prenouuc-
ing final prayer, the awful ceremony
WAS at aa end. The Offering of the
lambs blood was s greatfuI return for
the protection afforded them in life
and limb during the great journey
they had made into strange land.