Thomas County cat., 1886-03-04
FESTIVAL OF MouLouo.
Tho Strange Sights to BE Seen In . Morocco
Town.

FESTIVAL OF MOULOuD.
Tho Strange Sights to BE Seen In . Moroc.o
Town.
Saffi is perhaps the least known. bn.
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 Moulav
Yezzid, who was in the habit of do.
capitating 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 of
the line, who died here some time in
the year 1880. Saffi is also one of the
holy cities of the Moorish Empire. and
in consequence is thronged with ragged
but sanity individuals. who thrive on
the charity of the devout. During the
Mohamnedan holiday of Moufoud.
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 Mussulmans, "Moulay
Add ell Kedar- Gillely the
Europeans resident here were the
.shudde-ing spectators of the religious
frenzy exhibited by the "Aissowa" and
;"Hamadsha," or "Hamdoushy," on
the occasion of their public proces-
,siOns, which are also conducted in this
holiday. The "Aissowa" are of the
brotherhood of 'Moulay Hamed ben
Aissa,' saint of great favor among
the MOors. 1t is pretended that
their manifestations, which in
clude snake-charming and Jug
Cling, 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 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
festivities to throw cannon balls into
the air, which they receive on their
bare heads, and to inflict gashes upon
their persons with a small axe. The
holiday of Mouloud is accompanied by
the displays of religious enthusiasts
throughout his Sheerefan Majesty the
Sultan Of Morocco's dominions; but at
no other point do these fanatics amuse
themselves with such ferocity as at
Saffi. where the rapaciousness of their
behaviour renders it extremely danger
Gus for a Christian or Jew to cross
their puth during certain hours of the
day. Even the Musselman spectators
stand with naked feet, fearing the
''Aissowa," for lack of prey, should
seize end devOur their shoes. None
but an eye witness can conceive the
degrading scenes which occur during
these professions; and none, even the
enactois, can derive enjoyment there
from. The ''Aissowa' are naked to
the wsist, and wear their hair so that
when necessary it 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 or
chapels in town, and sally forth attend
ed by the ''gernowa" (blacks). who
are usually the musicians of the
party. They beat tam-tams and
play an instrument whose tones
it is impossible to describe on
paper. Suffice il to say. the student of
this instrument is not allowed to pur-
sue his practice in town, but has to
play in solitary and distant spot until
proficient. This will convey some i'm
preston of the music impaired to list
eners by this barbarous tlageolet. As
the processiOnists warm with excite
ment, then commences the fun of the
fair. The Aissowa seize any live ami
NAL in sight, be it cat, dog, goat or
sheep. Goats are usually provided for
these occasions by admirers. They
tear them to pieces, and vie one with
another to devour the bleeding morsels
of flesh. They struggle. rolling over
and over upon the ground, shouting.
leaping and gesticulating. 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 '.Hamad- |
sha," covered with blood and mire, |
singing their quaint and not ungrace-
full hymn. and chopping themselves to
the cadence of the music. Such is the |
strange behavior of these fraternities |
on high days and holidays. After
parading the town by day, in the even
ing these zealots return to their sanctu- !
ary. where a supper is provided for
their ediication. 1t is worthy of note
that their most exciting beverage is
green tea, taken with large quantity
Of sugar, and favored with mint. The
supper is followed by a pipe of ''keefe"
(the leaves of the hemp planD. which
forms an agreeable sedative after the
excitements of the afternoon.-COr.
Pail Mall Gazette.