Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-05-01

Strange Sights To BE Seen on the street,
of Morocco Town.


of . Morocco Town.
Sefh is also one of the holy cities of the
Moorish empire, and in consequence Is
thronged with ragged but sanity indi.
viduals, who thrive on the charity of the
devout. During the Mohammedan holi.
day of Mouloud, which was celebrated
on the 10th and Goth of December, and
which embraces a fair held yearly in
honor of that saint, so dear to all Mus
selmans, @Moulay Add el-Kedar- Giilely.
elBagdady, the Europeans resident here
were the shuddering spectators of the
religious frenzy exhibited by the aAis-
sowar and @Hamadsha," or Hand
oushy,n ON the occasion of their public
professions, which are also conducted in
this holiday. The @Aissowa" are of the
brotherhood of @Moulay Hamed ben
Aissa." a saint of great favor among the
Moors. 1t is pretended that their man
ifestations, which include snake-charm-
ing and juggling, ridicule the miracles
of Jesus Christ, and this preposterous
statement is accepted by the Moors as
sufficient explanation of their vagaries.
The "Hamadshar are the disciplinants
of one Sidi Ali ben Hamdoush, whose
zowia is situated on Mount Zehrouan,
near the city of Mequinez. 1t is their
practice on the occasion of religious fes-
hvities to throw cannon balls into the
air, which they receive on their bare
heads, and to infiict gashes upon their per-
sons with small AK. The holiday of
Mouloud is accompanied by the displays
of religious enthusiasts throughout his
Sheerefian majesty the sultan of Mo
rocco's dominions; but at no other point
do these fanatics amuse themselves with
such ferocity as at Saffi, where the
rapaciousness of their behavior renders
ii extremely dangerous for Christian or
Jew 30 cross their path during certain
hours of the day. Even the Mussulman
spectators stand with naked feet, fearing
the "Aissowa" for lack of prey, should
seize and devour their shoes.
None but an eyewitness can conceive
the degrading scenes which occur during
the professions; and none, even the
enactors, can derive enjoyment there
from. The "Aissowa" are naked to the
waist, and wear their hair so that when
necessary it covers the face. The
@Hamadshs,r on the contrary, are
shaven, as is the custom of Mohamme-
dams. The principal performers assemble
at their respective zowias or chapels in
town, sally forth attended by the
"gernowa" (blacls), who are usually the
musicians of the party. They beat tam
tams and play an instrument whose tones
il is impossible to describe on paper.
Suffice it to say, the student Of this In
strument is not allowed to pursue his
practice in town, but has to PLAY In a
solitary and distant spot until proficient.
This will convey some impression Of the
music impaired to listeners by this bar
barous fagolet.
As the processionists warm with ex-
element, then commences the fun Of the
fair. The Aissowa seize any live animal
in sight, be it cat, dog, goat, or sheep.
Goats are usually provided for these oc-
casions by admirers. They tear them to
pieces, and vie one with another to de-
your the bleeding morsels Of flesh. They
struggle, rolling over and over upon the
ground, shouting, leaping, and gesticu-
iating. They wave the entrails and
skins of their victims In the faces of
their comrades, who try TO seize the prey
with their teeth or rut their faces in the
reeking mass. Just behind and around
are the "Hamadsha,' covered with blood
and mire, singing their quaint and not
ungraceful hymn, and chopping them
selves TO the cadence Of the music. Such
is the strange behavior Of these fraterni-
A - - a. n