The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-12-03
NO.12.

waV of entrance. The walls are bulls
of caroeI. or mud smeared with plaster
that preserves ii from the weather.
Winding slowly over the plain andup thN
barren height, the procession OF mourm
ers, outcasts in land they once ruled
bear the dead to his last resting-place
A hole is made in the wall of the cem-
eterv. through which the corpse Is
taken to its grave
Strange to say, the grave is not dug
in the earth. The surface OF tha
et0Hnd within this unrOOfed inclosurs
is divided by raised lines of brick lntd
numerous oblbn@ cells of uniform slze3
much like the pdrteTFes of garden.
The corpse is laid in one of these,
dressed, Snd left there exposed TO thd
! elements. Vultures and buzzards
| hover over the cemetery in 1lOcks; they
know full well what is taking place ia
! the desUlate spot. Then the mourners
retire to a little distance up the hill
/ side to watch the birds of prey swooP
! down to devour the dead. They havo
| a reason for thus keenly observing for
/ they believe that the destiny of the de-
| parted soul is revealed by the acts OF
! the birds II they devour the right
| eve fist, the soul IL IN HeaN en-; but II
the left eye is first attacked, then the
mourners 90 away sOrroWtulv Tor SAD
is the doom of their departed friend.
But the Guebres have other and more
cheerful customs than this. Their new
wear is called the No RooZ, or New
Dav. 1t COMES as the time when the
sun crosses the line in March. Their
traditions state that this festival was
ordained by their great Legendary King
Shah Iemshced. Although most of the
Persians are now Mohaminedans, yet
they all accept the period for the COM
menremeut of the new year established
in their country long ages before the
camel-driver of the desert sent his
armies to force them to his creed and
thus, at the No Rooz, Guebrcs and Mus
sulmen alike rejoice. The latter pre-
tend that they celebrate the occasion
because it Is the birth anniversary Of
their Prophet, but this IS a mere ilimsy
excuse, concocted in 0f'ler to show
their disdain for the Guebres. Bat III
& hundred ways the Persians show that
I'm their celebration of this annual fes-
tivai they are following the traditions
of their wGrshiping ancestors.
Nowhere is the new year celebrated
with more mysticism and pOmp ans
universal rejoicing than in Persia. For
weeks before it arrives the people begin
their preparations for the occasion.
Every one seeks to raise money to pur.
F chase the new suit of clothes he is
expected to wear at the time, and the
! confectionery and provisions for the
ten days of feastng, as during that
, period the shops are mostly closed
So important is il to be properly pre-
pared for the No Rooz, that articles OF
t;riee that are family heirlooms are
often sacrificed in order TO provide the
needed money. When the new moon
of that month appears, devOut Persians
look to the east, then, covering the
face with their hands, they arc slowly
turned until, on Withdrawing the hands
the cleaning sickle of the new moon il
seen directly in front. Perhaps our
! superstition about discovering the new
moon over the right shoulder is sug-
0ested bv this Persian custom. The
eve before No Rooz Is also the occasion
: for cuffCus ceremony, evidently sug-
oested bv the mystical meaning the
Guebres attach to fire ana light. The
4 t0n3mon people leap over heaps OF
burning bfushwoOd laid IN rows. 1t Il
possible the hCathenish custom Of
''passing children through the fire
may be a form of this ceremony.
AS the hour approaches for che sun
to cross the line, the Shah assemblies IN
: the great audience-chambcr of the
palace, with the high spiritual and
I temporal dignitaries of the Kingdom.
Money is distributed to all for good
! luck on the commencement Of the new
I year. At the moment the astrOloger-
announce the No Rooz, the Shall
2 oravely exclaims, "Mambarek Dashed!
-.'May it be propitious TO vouW
, sacred song of rejoicing is then sung
! by mollah, or priest; after this eacl
, courtier, according to his rank, offer.
; his obeisance to the Shah, and receive.
from the royal hand presents. q
". Benjamin, in YoUth'S Companion