Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-02-12

of the human beings form scene which
makes one stare and be silent.
They sell at auction loug candles for the
next days festival. The marabout takes them
in his hands, rolls them, recites prayer over
them and the auction goes on in Arabic, of
course "KAddach chow much }, ouahhed
franc Zone franc), zoudj, achra franc (two,
ten fraucs) When the money is handed in
the marabout says short prayer for the buy
er, mumbling it with his two hands raised be-
fore his mouth just Rs II he were talking to
his fingers then strokes his beard for the
'amen, and his neighbors do the same.
The auction goes on for half an hour; mon
ey must be had. Evidently the human race
is the same verywhere, whatever the mode
of collecting money may be, the priests must
live the mosques must be kept up.
The auction ut last ended, an immense dish
of couscoussou, a sort Of boiled meal mixed
with rice ia brought in. First the priests go
at it with long wooden spoons they eat as il
they had tasted for long while, aud hand
spoonfuls to others, who receive the mess in
their hands The dish is passed from group
to group, and for half an hour eating is the
order OF the night. Some religious feeling
is connected with that dish it has been bless
ed it is a kind of eucharist for them. The
dish comes to us R1umis propose to our
Lady to taste it. She declines, with thanks
the wooden spoons have been used by too
many mouths. At the same time cups of
coffee and tea circulate, and every one is get
ting in a state Of ply ysical and mental beati
tude. We partake of tea scented with ginger
and cinnamon all sWeetened aud hot Real
ly good drink
The banquet ended, a marabout chants
prayer the drum or tambour men have
warmed their instruments and strike them in
measure, so az to produce a wietd, monoto.
nous music, which by its constant repetition
produces a kind of excitement The mara
bouts pray, the tambours are sounded, the
women move their hands rapidly over their
mouths, and utter peculiar shrll feminine
sound -yeu, yel. yeu; it is a sign Of JOY and
great enjoyment.
An individual arises, supported by two 9th
ers, takes of his turban, places bis bead over
the brasero; incense is burnt. The man is
under the influence OF hashish (hemp prepa-
ration producing hallucinatioD) he balances
his head forward aud backward, jerks out bis
neck as if he were going to throw his head fl.
1t is hideous. Another joins him this one
has long hair, which he shakes as 20 many
serpents. II is more hideous. Others get
up and make all sorts OF contortions. All
belong to Aissasouas, Mussulman Fakirs-
M4homedan Jesuits, writer calls them.
! { Vide Assassins in crusades times in some
encyclopaedia No. / takes a glass lamp
chimney, breaks it with his teeth, munches
the pieces aud swallows them-o or appears to.
Another puts burning charcoal in his mouth,
and seems to eat it. A rope is passed around
the body OF one, and three men pull on each
side enough to cut him in two if it were all
done bona fde. A sword is brought; one
stands on its edge-or appears to.
Long ago S has disappeared, sickened by
all these horrors Oar Lady seems fascinat-
ed. and would be there yet il her lord and
master did not bring her out. 1t is past l l
O'Clock the moon is shining the streets are
SILENT the Arabs circulating look like so
many ghosts. 1t is not cold, no more than on
a bright spring or autumn moont night.