The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-07-07
ARAB FANATICISM.
FrishtfuI Scenes OF seif-Torture witnessed
In AIgiers.

FrightfuI Scenes of seif-Torture witnessed
In Algiers.
After an interval one OF the players
was ''inspired by Aissa." With Yell
he threw aside his tambour, rushed
into the center of tho ring, commence
ing frantic dance. The Makaddan
(head OF tho order) arose, and taking
his burnous from his shoulders en-
deavorcd to enfold the now contortcd
brother therein, but with fearful vio-
lencc the other seized it, wound it
about his person, tossed it over his
head and stamped 1t under his feet.
The noise of the drums grew louder
rs the subject became more frantic.
We clung to our seats in cold terror as
the voice of our guide came to us in u
calm whisper: "No matter what hap
pcns-only keep cool; they will not
harm you!' Now another has become
''inspired." The monkey screams arc
rep GATED again and again. There are
two now throwing themselves in mani
acal ecstasy; the burnous Is between
them; IL bunch of broom Is thrown into
the ring: both struggle for it; between
them it is lighted in the furnace;
their hands and arms are thrust
into the flames; one has also seized
a bundle of dry flax, has ignitcd it,
and to my horror | see him press the
| flaming mass to his bare chest and in
| to his open mouth Soon he falls ex-
hausted and another takes his place.
| This one seizes a red-hot iron from the
firs; it burns his hair; smoke arises;
saO him draw his hands across 1t, and
lay it on his foot with yells and howls
of pain the master carries him away,
| and Immediately another rushes for
| ward. have had enough and would
leave the terrible scene: but this last
fanatic fascinates me. He is young and
beautifully built. His white gan
doura' and blue and gold jacket seem
one garment as he whirls past me into
| the court, hair, arms, clothing, one
dizzy whole. What will he do-what
can he do more than the others? There
is IL cactus plant growing in jar in
one corner of the court, species of
| prickly pear, with its tough leaves
| covered thickly with long thorns. This
he seizes, as his wild dance brings him
in its vicinity. The weird music swells
and falls as the victim throws himself on
| the ground beside the fire. CrOuching
| low before the altar, he places his fore
head on the ground, and, this humili-
ated, he ravenously devours the thorny
| petals. AS if this were not enough, he
| springs again to his feet, and seizing
ono of the pots of Goals, he twirls it
about his head until the surface
is glowing red. The Makaddan
| l1neels beside it. In II second the
| cruel deed is done and we see the gray
| impression of the boys naked foot upon
| the red-hot fire, while he is off and
away with Il cry of fiendish joy, and,
| unlike his predecessor, he takes his
place among his fellows, apparently
| without pain. 1t was too dreadful. too
| uncanny, to recount-the spiked iron
| thrust into the flesh, the knotted cord,
| the jagged sword-blade. One would
have forced out his eye, but Moham-
| med, by the mouth of his servant
| Makaddan, forbids the deed. Another
threw himself upon a sword and IL
| grey-haired man played with fire as If
were harmless as earth, Then came u
mulmur among the spectators. the first
| l had heard, and the word "scorpion!'
fell upon my ear. Truly had never
expected to behold that most terrible
| of reptiles, whose sting is instant death
and whose touch is sure poison. But
it was true. They brought them in an
earthen vessel, and must confess that
American curiosity got the better OF
American manners, for "see them we
would, and see them we did. In color,
| n pale pink, in form long and narrow,
with many legs and Il squirming side
wise motion like crab. We shivered
as the things were carried past; but
| horror of horrors was reached when
| fine, tall fellow seized one, fearlessiy
tore it to pieces, and devoured it be-
fore our eyes.-M Y Commercial Ad-
| uertiser.