Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-07-26
THE DANCE AISSAOUI.
A Fanatical Practice Still Oh
served in Algiers.
What An American Trader Saw at the
Secret Performance of Sadi Moham-
med's -Self-Inficted Tor
lures by Fire and Sword.

The energy born of belief in per-
secution inflicted for the sake of future
felicity, or in penance for present sins,
has ubeen the theme of endless crlti-
cism among writers upon the subject
of religious observances in the East.
In fact, one finds it hard to believe
that such examples of physical endur-
ance under self-inhicted torture can
exist. The law of self-preservation
the motto "Errare humanum est" is
SO strong in Christian civilization that
the tendency is rather to shrink from
self-accusation than to resort to the
energetic measures of exorcism prac-
ticed by the heather of long ago. Yet
in this civilized age, in this seemingly
civilized City of Algiers, there re-
mains sect of Mohammedans whose
penance for sin is as strictly and
cruelty self-imposed to-day as in the
ancient times. 1t may be for stealing
horse, or for cheating neighbor, or
taking the name of Allah in vain.
Who may tell for what these stately,
white-robed Arabs scourge them
selvesP Enough that, light as the Of
Tense, Allah must be avenged, and con-
ciliation is only attained by the dance
"Aissaoui.
We have been fortunate Cor unfortu-
nate) enough to be present at this
strange fanatic religious performance,
and have seen this relic of barbarism
still extant in this civilized nineteenth
century. The dance Aissaoui is per-
Torrance which the votaries of Sid
Mohammed alone indulge in-secret,
of course, from the watchful eye of the
French Government, and secret, too,
from all eyes but those who, in men,
DRY of former days, when worship of
sun-gods, idols and fire stirred their
race TO untold horrors, find in this OBJ
servance some of the religious ecstasy
described by their fathers and grand
fathers as atonement for sin and the
inspiration of Sadi Mohammed blu
Aissa, their god.
That we saw this ceremony through
the Vaccinations of traitor goes with
out saying. Mystery attended our go
ing from the first. Very mysterious
was the communication of our guide,
and still more clandestine the gathering
of our little party at the foot of given
palm tree, where we stood trembling
with excitement. Suddenly a white
robbed figure darted ahead out OF the
night, and our guide, apparently not
perceiving him, and with motion to
us not to betray his presence, started
in pursuit How can l describe the
maze into which he led us. Alleys,
not more than three feet wide; streets
that were just fight of steps-always
ascending, the projecting roofs or
either side scarcely permitting us tc
see the line of starlight sky above
places so narrow. that the ghost-likt
figures of the Arabs stealing to and fro
were forced topress themselves against
the houses to give us passage. Wha'
sights we saw through those eastern
entrances, what riches of Moorish dec
Grafton, what subjects for artists OF
writersl Here family engaged il
embroidery, the father sitting cross
legged on straw mating, the half
naked boys arranged or sorting th'
brilliant colored silks. and the Who'll,
scene lighted by flaming Eastern
lamp suspended from the rafters; il
she next shop "tonsorisl artist