Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1886-03-24
THE FESTIVAL OF MouLoUo. !
Strange Sights To He Seen on the Street
Of Morocco Town.

Strange Sights To He Seen on the street.
Of Morocco Town.
Saffi is also one of the holy cities of tho
Moorish empire. and in consequence Il
thronged with ragged but sanity indi
viduals, who thrive on the charity of tho
devout. During the Mohammedan hoh
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-
el-Bagdady," the Europeans resident here
were the shuddering spectators of tho
religious frenzy exhibited by the "Ais-
sowa" and "Hamadsha,' or "Hamd.
oushy," on the occasion of their publ,
professions, which are also conducted in
this holiday. The "Aissowa" are of the
brotherhood of ~Moulay Hamed ben
Aissa.n 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 "Hamadsha" are the disciplinants
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 fes-
tivities to throw cannon balls into the
air, which they receive on their bare
heads, and to inflct gashes upon their per-
sons with a 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
righteousness of their behavior renders
it extremely dangerous for Christian or
Jew to 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
tlldttolS, Csiil atiiNt NiiJbN
from. The "Aissowa" are naked to the
waist. and wear their hair so that when
necessary it covers the face. The
"IIamadsha," 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 tho
@gernowa" (blacks), who are usually the
musicians of the party. They beat tam
tams and play an instrument whose tones
it is impossible tc 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 tho
music impaired to listeners by this bar
barous fiagolet.
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 &C.
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-
lating. 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-
ties on high days and holidays.
After parading the town by day, in the
evening these zealots return to their
sanctuary, where a supper is provided
for their edification. 1t is worthy of
note that their most exciting beverage is
green tea, taken with large quantity of
sugar, and favored with mint. Tho
supper is followed by a pipe of ~keefe"
tthe leaves of the hemp plant, which
forms an agreeable sedatiye after the ex-
elements of the afternoon.-Cor. Pail
Mall Gazette.