The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-02-17
"HASsAN AND HUssFIN-o
Celebration Of the Great Persian Festival on the
BesPhsrus.
CoSsrANTNoPIE. Dec. 1. 1882

CoSsTANTTSoPLE, Dec. 1, 1882.
Wednesday last, the tenth day Of Moharrem,
the first month of the Arabic year, was the great
field Cay OF the Persians. No festival, however.
Is this annual event, like either of the Bairams
that bring JOY to the Free Believer as does
Christmas and Easter to the Christian world.
but a season of great sorrow, resembling in that
respect the Good Friday of the latter. 1t is the
day set apart for mourning the uniimely deaths
of Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet,
and his two sons, HaSsan and Hussein. Invited
by a Persian friend I went across to STEAMBOAT on
Tuesday night, and never shall / forget the
weird, oiabolical scene / witnessed from the
gallery of his Office. a hundred maniacs for
they appeared to be nothing less were stand
ing around in a circle beating their breasts and
shouting. Several of them had swords and dag
gers, with which they were slashing themselves
and each other, inhicting CHASTITY flesh wounds
that, in their excitement, were evidently not felt.
Seen by the lurid light of burning torches, the
naked bodies of the fanatics streaming with per
spiratien and blood, it looked like some Dore
picture OF " high jinks' in pandemonium. A
little of II went a long way with me, and to get rid
OF a sick feeling inspired by the sight I was glad
to retire into my friends room and drink a cup
of his wonderful caravan tea. As far as l could
understand, these men were penitents, expiating
in this manner lot only their own sins, but
those of their richer brethren. from whom they
subsequently, receive ample rewards.
The following day liz a sort of A Souls lestI-
val, as the Persiaus living at SIamboul all pro-
coed To the cemetery AT Scutari to mourn the
death of their friends and relatives buried there.
the Persian colony at Constantinople Eumbers
"a great many thousand souls. and though indi-
yidually the members are not rich there is still
wealth enough among them To enable the Embas-
sador To live en- grand Seigneur- All the donkey
carrying trade is in their hands, and as these small
animals are much used for carting about building
materials and removing rubbish, a good deal OF
money Is picked up IN II small way. Tue import
trade via 1rebizonde still exists. although il has
suffered greatly OF late years through the opening
of OTHER routes and the rapid advance OF Russia
with her programme for the absorption of all the
commerce of Central ASIA. A. the Persian pro-
yinciaI governors rule in their own do,nains. ~
the Ambassador at Constantinople " Ields u power
full scepter over his countrymen. itiruut ex-
actly enjoying the power OF putting any indi-
vidual to death, prisoners can be SO tortured as to
readily yield up their lives, when their bodies are
disposed of without further question. A lew
months ago some awkward revelations were being
made in the columns Of a local paper about TIE
use OF the bastinado at the Persian Consulate,
but the matter died out as suddenly as it had APP
peared. Mohsin Kahn IS a wise man, and pos
sessing much influence with the Turkish au th0rI-
ties it was easy for him, by invoking the same
and the judicious use of u little gold. TO stihe the
matter before it had become such u public scandal
as to necessitate official inquiry. All the expense
connected with the maintenance OF the embassy
and consulate is borne by the Persian colony, and
it is easy to understand how. with sueh facilities
for squeezing at their command, the representa-
tives of His Majesty the Shah are SO loath to yield
up their posts to successors. Mohsin Khan is
considered rather a jolly fellow in Constantine
politan society. He has a good tempered
emiling face, and is very attentive to European
ladies'. He gives nice little breakfasts, and occa-
sionaliy a big dinner party and a ball; and his
pleasing ways have won snch 'avor for him with
the Sultan aud the Turks in general that there
would be a perfect howl of Indignation were his
master To recall HIM To reheran or appoint him
! ekewiere.