Huntsville gazette., 1886-12-04
the fire from being extingaished i

1
doctrines and customs. One of these
other concerns the theory of immor-
tality. They maintain that there are
two principles. the good and the evil,
which they call Oromusdao and Ahri-
masdao. The ancient Greeks corrupt
ed these names to Ormusd and Ahriman.
These two principles, or influences,
| fight for the mastery through the ages.
seeking to win possession of the soul
| of man.
When Guebre dies at Teheran, his
corpse is taken to the lonely cemetery
five miles south of the city, situated on
a lone rocky eminence that overlooks
the vast plains quivering with mirage.
1t resembles white watch-tower, be-
ing built in the shape of round hill
fort. 1t is white. and has no apparent
| way Of entrance. The walls are built
of cargel, or mud smeared with plaster
that preserves it from the weather.
Winding slowly over the plain and up the
barren height, the procession Of mourn
| ers, outcasts in land they once ruled,
bear the dead to his last resting-place.
A hole is made in the wall of the Gem
etery, through which the corpse is
taken to its grave.
Strange to say, the grave is not dug
| in the earth. The surface of the
| ground within this unroofed inclosure
is divided by raised lines of brick into
numerous oblong cells of uniform size,
much like the parterres of a garden.
| The corpse is laid in one of these,
dressed. and left there exposed to the
elements. Vultures and buzzards
hover over the cemetery in 1ocks; they
know full well what is taking place in
the desolate spot. Then the mourners
retire to little distance up the hill
side to watch the birds of prey swoop
down to devour the dead. They have
a reason for thus keenly observing, for
they believe that the destiny of the de-
parted soul is revealed by the acts OF
the birds. If they devour the right
eye first. the soul is in Heaven; but il
the left eye is first attacked. then the
mourners go away sorrowful. for sad
is the doom of their departed friend.
But the Gnebres have other and more
| cheerful customs than this. Their new
year is called the No Rooz, or New
4
sun crosses the line in March. Their
traditions state that this festival was
ordained by their great legendary King
Shah Iemsheed. Although most of the
Persians are now Mohammedans. yet
they all accept the period for the COM
mencement of the newyear established
in their country long ages before the
camel-driver of the desert sent his
armies to force them to his creed; and
thus, at the No Rooz, Guebres and Mus
! sulmen alike rejoice. The latter pre-
tend that they celebrate the occasion
because it is the birth anniversary Of
| their Prophet, but this is a mere fimsy
excuse, concocted in order TO show
their disdain for the Guebres. But in
a hundred ways the Persians show that
in their celebration of this annual fes-
tival they are following the traditions
of their worshiping ancestors.
| Nowhere is the new year celebrated
with more mysticism and pomp and
universal rejoicing than in Persia. For
weeks before it arrives the people begin
| their preparations for the occasion.
| Every one seeks to raise money to pur-
chase the new suit of clothes he is
expected to wear at the time, and the
confectionery and provisions for the
ten days Of feasting, as during that
period the shops are mostly closed.
So important is it to be properly pre-
pared for the No Rooz, that articles OF
price that are family heirlooms are
often sacrificed in order to provide the
needed money. When the new moon
of that month appears, devout Persians
| look to the east. then, covering the
face with their hands, they are slowly
| turned until, on withdrawing the hands,
the cleaning sickle of the new moon is
seen directly in front. Perhaps our
| superstition about discovering the new
moon over the right shoulder is sug-
gested by this Persian custom. The
eve before No Rooz is also the occasion
for curious ceremony, evidently sug
gested by the mystical meaning the
Guebres attach to fire and light. The
common people leap over heaps Of
burning brushwood laid IN rows. 1t is
possible the heathenish custom OF
| ''passing children through the fire.
may be form of this ceremony.
AS the hour approaches for the sun
to cross the line, the Shah assemblies III
the great audience chamber Of the
palace, with the high spiritual and
temporal dignitaries Of the Kingdom
Money is distributed to all for good
| luck on the commencement Of the new
year. At the moment the astrologers
announce the No RooZ, the Shah
sravely exclaims, ''Mambarek bashedn'
-..May it be propitious to you!' A
sacred song of rejoicing is then sung
by mollah, or priest; after this each
courtier, according to his rank. offers
his obeisance to the Shah, and receives
from the royal hand presents. G.
W. Benjamin, in Youths Companion