Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-03-18
FESTIVAL OF MOUlOUD.
Tho Strange Sights to BE Seen in a Morocco
Town.

Ino strange SlBnIs 10 BE seen In mOrocCu
Town.
Saffi is perhaps the least known, bu,
withal, ON account of its picturesque
situation and traditions, the most in
teresting of the seaport towns of Mo
rocco. Here is to be found the ancient
palace, still in a good state Of preserya-
ton, of "sultanogre" named Moulay
Yezzid, who was in the habit of de-
CAPTIVATING his domestics to play at
bowls with their heads. This monster,
surnamed "Redbeard," a characteristic
derived from his mothers race, was
the son of Moulay Mohamed ben Alb
dullah, who married an Irishwoman
the widow of an English sergeant o.
the line, who died here some time in
the year 1870. aSailii is also one of the
holy cities of the Moorish Empire, and
in consequence is thrOngedwith ragged
but sanity individuals, who thrive on
the charity of the devout. During the
Mohammedan holiday of Mouloud,
which was celebrated on the 18th and
Goth of December, and which embraces
fair held yearly in honor of that saint,
50 dear to all Mussulmans, "Moulay
Add el-Kedar-Gillely-el-Bag the
Europeans resident here were the
shuddering spectators of the religious
frenzy exhibited by the "Aissowa" and
"Hamadsha,' or "Hamdoushy," on
the occasion of their public process
sions, which are also conducted in this
holiday The .'Aissowa" are of the
brotherhood Of ''Monlay Hamed ben
Aissa," saint Of great favor among
the Moors. 1t is pretended that
their manifestations, which in
clude understanding and Jug
Cling, ridicule the miracles d OF
Jesus Christ. and this preposterous
statement is accepted by the Moors as
sufficient explanation of their yagaries.
The "Hamadsha" are the 'dsciplinants
of one Sid Ali ben Hamdoush, whose
zowia is Situated on Mount Zehrouan,
near the city of Mequinez. 1t is their
practice on the occasion of religious
festivities to throw cannon, balls into
the air, which they receive. on their
bare heads, and to infict gashes upon
theif persons with a small axe. The
holiday of Mouloud is accompanied by
the displays iof religious enthusiasts
throughout his Sheerefian Majesty the
Sultan of Morocco's dominions; but at
no other point do these fanatics amuse
| themselves with such ferocity as al
| Saffi. where the righteousness of their
behaviour renders it extremely danger
Gus for Christian or jew to, cross
their path during certain hours of the
day. Even the Musselman spectators
stand with naked feet, fearing the
"Aissowa,' for lack OF prey, should
seize and devour their shoes. None
but an eye witness can conceive the
degrading scenes which occur during
these professions; and none, even the
enactors, can derive enjoyment there.
from. The "Aissowa" are naked tc
the waist, and wear their hair so that
when necessaryit covers the face. The
"Hamadsha, on the contrary, are
shaven,, as is the custom of Mohamme
dams. The principal performers as
semble at their respective zowias OF
chapels in town, and sally forth attend
ed by the "gernowa" (blacks), who
are usually the g. musicians FL of the
party. They beat tam-tams anc
play an instrument whose tones
it is impossible to describe OF
paper. Suffice it to say, the student Of
this instrument is not allowed to pur
sue his practice in town, but has tC
play in solitary and distant spot unit
, proficient. This will convey some I'M
preston of the music impaired to list
eners by this barbarous flageolet, Az
the professionals warm with excite
ment, then commences the fun of thu
fair. The Aissowa SEIZE any live ami
NAL in sight, be it cat, dog, goat O
sheep, Goats are usually provided TO
" these occasions by admirers. The.
I'd tear them to pieces, and vie one witt
another to devour' the bleeding morsel
of flesh. They Struggle, rolling owe
and over upon the ground, shouting
leaping and gesticulating. They wav
the entrails and skins of their victim
in the faces of their comrades. who tr,
to seize the prey with their teeth or ri
their faces in the retking mass. jus
behind and around are the "Hamad
sha," covered with blood and mire
singing their quaint and not ungrace
full hymn, and chopping themselves t
the cadence of the music, Such is tn
strange behavior of these fraternitie
on high days and holidays. Afte
parading the town by day, I'M the ever
: ing these zealots return to their sanctr
AIRY, where supper is provided fo
their edifcation, tits worthy of not
that their most exciting beverage
green tea, taken with large quantit
Of sugar, and Favored with mint. tt
, supper is followed by apipe of ''keefe
! (the leaves of the hemp planD, whic
forms an agreeable sedative after til