The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-09-26
Barbarous Punishment.

.As walk mp the room the clock
strikes the hour of 2. The project Of
fers me his hand, and NJ his invitation
l take seat by his side. Then ne
gro, clad in a long white robe, AMI
wearing on his head an enormous yell
low turban, brings me little cup OF
coffee and n bundle of cigarettes. As
l hand back my cup to this imposing
servitor, three Arabs. escorted by two
guards, arc led before the project
These unfortunates seem TO belong to
the poorest of the people; their feet are
bare, their clothing is worn and rag
ged, their hands tremble convulsively,
their eyes are haggard, and their faces
twitch in apprehension rs they listen in
mournful silence to the words address
ed to them by tho project. After the
exchange of u few words two of the
prisoners are led from the room. Then
five men enter. These are the tortur-
ers, and nothing more fell or hang-dog
than their looks can be imagined.
Four OF them seize the Arab who is still
standing before the project, and the
poor wretch, rs he is cast upon the
ground, throws Mt him glance elo-
quont with agony and fear, but the
great mans countenance remains fixed
and impassive and he makes no sign of
grace. Fili f faftt
Tho victim was then placed on one
OF tho slabs with his chest resting on
the stone, in which position he was
held by two of the executioners. Two
others next raised his legs until his feet
were in horizontal position, in which
they were retained by means of cord
fastened to either end of stick. Each
man held the stick with one hand while
with the other he kept fast hold of the
Arabs legs. In the grip Of these four
powerful and expert men it is impossi-
bic for him to move and almost impos-
sible for him to writhe. On this the
fifth torturer, who has taken no part in
the preliminary proceedings, came for
ward, holding in his hand sort Of lash
consisting OF five strands of twisted gut
or hide. The face of this man was sim
gularly hideous and repulsive.
HE raised his arm and struck with
the regularity of q pendulum the up
turned feet Of his helpless victim. At
cry OF pain, and at every fresh stroke
the cry was repeated. But soon the
cry became q scream, the Negotiated
flesh visibly shuddered and the soles
were scanned with red and livh streaks.
Sitting silently on my cushion, chew
ing mechanically the tobacco of my
extinguished cigarette, could not help
shivcring with horror ut the sight of so
much suffering. felt as If were I'M
der the delusion of some terrible night
mare. Osman Bey, his secretary, the
five executioners, with their stern and
sinister features, looking unmoved on
so cruel n sight, seemed for q moment
rather the creations of disordered i'm
ngination than beings of flesh and
blood, but the heavy thud of the
strokes and the screams of the victim
recalled me to the sad reality which l
was so reluctantly witnessing. Then
the punishment ceased, and the Arab,
with CHASTITY face and body shaken
with feverish trembling, had to in
cline himself respectfully before the
man by whose order he had been cru
ely tormented. Helped by guard.
for his MANNED and bleeding feet re-
fused to support him, he was then led,
still moaning with agony, from the
torture chamber. The other two Arabs
were afterwards punished in like man
ner. 1t was now past o'clock, and
his Excellcncy, putting on his usual
pleasant smile, gave me his orders con-
corning the services of tho police. l
then saluted him and hurried away
from the place where / had seen the
practical application of barbarous
Jurisprudence. "-Hilaire Gays Book
on Egyptian T0rtures.