Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-03-26
WHOLE NO. 2l64.
THE FEAST OF HCSSEIN.
Horrible Scenes at Nohamne dan Hc
ligiOus Ceremony,

Horrible Scenes Mt n Nohamme dam Hc"
liSious Ceremony,
A Constantinople letter to the san
Francisco Chronicle describes in graph
ic language the horrible scenes wit
messed by the writer at religious GER
emony. Says the correspondent; "There
was the sharp stroke Of bell and the
whole band fell on their knees, and
bending touched their foreheads three
times to the ground. The crowd also
bowed their heads. Then the priests
in front, rising, commenced low, mo-
notonous chant, accompanied va nod
ding motion Of the head. One after
another the following files took up the
strain and the motion, and the whole
body began slowly to advance, keeping
perfect time to the music Of
the chanting. The chant had sunk to
harsh, cultural whisper, and the
crowd, which had been gathering al.
most as much excitement as the AGO.
lytes, now began to take hand in the
proceedings, Everywhere in the great
court heals and bodies were swaying
and bending, and fresh voices were
int0ning the chant, "al-lah, al-lah!'
throwing the emphasis strongly on
the second syllable of the word. As
the priest commenced the story of
llussein's prophecy and death the pro-
cession suddenly opened its ranks ,leay-
ing spaces Of several feet between the
files. At the same time all the young.
er priests rolled up the sleeves of their
tunics above the elbow on their right
arm. The chant changed to "allah,
allah, God and the prophet" and the
rate Of speed was quickened. The
crowd pressed heavier and closer
against the ropes. The faces of the
devotees ontorted-almoSt convulSed,
There was shout from the priest, fol
lowed by sudden silence, during which
time every man raised his sword above
his head Another shout, and with
the resumption of the chant and a
perfect roar from the crowd, the swords
came down. every man striking him
self with the sharp edge across the
head or forehead, making wounds
from which the blood flowed freely.
The swords were Immediately raised
and again came down as before. At
first everything was methodical, and
the cutting was done together. But,
as the acolytes caught the craziness of
the spectators, all discipline ceased, and
each man slashed and cut himself as he
saw iit In many cases the wounds
crossed and re-crossed each other till
the whole head was a mere lacewOrk of
cuts.
1t was a horrible and sickening
sight. At one point at the first blow
struck by one of the dervishes the blood
spurted from the wound and struck
one of the soldiers at the ropes direct
" in the face. lie fell as if he had
been hit by a bullet. The shock sick
cned him and he had tainted. Such
an exhibition could not last long. The
limit to human endurance even where
strengthened by religious fanaticsm
is very narrow Before the procession
hal gone the length of the square many
of the deyotees were reeling and stag
gcring like drunken men, Their faces
were CHASTITY pale, and their long white
cloaks were streaked and stained with
blood Then q man stumbled and
fell forward and was carried away by
the attendants. The strokes of tho
swords grew feebler and the chanting
sunk to husky whisper. Slower and
slower they went, and new men were
reeling and dropping at every step. The
head of the column reached the steps
and turning up them disappeared
within the building, But of the actu-
NJ devotees not half had the strength
to go by themselves. The crowd be-
Gan to disperse before the last victim
lad been carried away. The servants
commenced to eXtinguish the lights on
The altar, the great court gradually
emptcd itself ofpeople, and the feast
Of Hussein was over.