Wichita eagle., 1888-04-29
SALVATION BY TORTURE.
REVOLVING RELIGIOUS PERFORM
ANCE IN A MOSQUE.

mohammedan DevOteeS K<nSaSeQ IN HOT
ribIe Orgies-Reachiny the Extreme
Pitch of Cataleptic Inebriation-Mar-
Meanwhile the music had been growing in
intensity, the orchestra sharing the excite
ment which they communicated The drum
mers beat their tambours with redoubled
force, lifting them high above their heads,
and occasionally, at some extreme pitch,
tossing them aloft and catching them again
as they fell. Sometimes, in the exaltation Of
frenzy, they started spasInodically TO their
feet and then sank back into their original
position.
And now the oscillating line in front of the
doorway for the first time found utterance-
As they leaped high on one foot, alternately
kicking out the other, as their heads wagged
TO and fro and their bodies Quivered with the
muscular strain, they cried aloud in praise of
Allah. LA ilaha ill Allahl" There is no
God but Allah. this was the untiring burden
Of their strain. And then came -Ya Allahl"
% God, and sometimes "Ya kshharl"
% avenging God, "Ya Hakki" % just God,
while each burst of clarlorous appeal culmi-
mated in an awful shout of "Ya HOOP
70 Him.
The rapidity and vehemence of their gestic-
ulations was now appalling; their heads
swung backward and forward till their fore
heads almost touched their breasts, and their
scalps smote against their backs. Sweat
poured from their faces; they painted for
breath; and the ordinations burst from
their mouths in thick and stertorous
too
tue first phase of the zikr ceased, and the ac
tors stood gasping, shaking and dripping
with perspiration.
After few seconds respite the perform
ance recommended, and shortly wazed
more furious than ever. The worshipers
seemed TO be gifted with an almost superhu-
man strength and energy. As the ecstasy
approached its height and che fully initiated
became melboos or possessed, they broke
from the stereotyped litany into demoniacal
grinning and ferocious and bestial cries.
These writhing and contorted objects were no
longer rational human beings, but savage
animals, Gagged brutes bowling madly in the
delirium of hunger or of pain. They growled
like bears, they barked like jackals, they
roared like lions, they laughed like hyenas;
and ever and anon from the seething rank
rose diabolical shrek, like the scream of
dying horse or the yell Of tortured fiend.
And steadily the while in the background re-
sounded the implacable reverberation of the
drums.
The climax was now reached; the requisite
pitch of cataleptic inebriation had been OBJ
tanned, and the rites of Aissa were about to
begin. From the crowd at the door q wild
figure broke forth, tore of his upper clothing
till he was naked to the waist and, throwing
away his fez, barred head close shaven save
for one long and disheveled lock that spring
ing from the scalp, fell over his forehead like
some grizzly and funeral plume A long
knife, somewhat resembling a cutlass, was
handed to him by the sheikh, who had risen
to his feet and who directed the phenomena
that ensued. Waving it wildly above his
head and protruding the forepart of his
figure, the fanatic brought it down blow after
blow against hts barred stomach, and drew it
savagely to and fro against the unprotected
skin. There showed the marks of long and
livid veal, but no blood spurted from the
cash. In the intervals between the strokes
he ran swiftly from one side to the other of
the open space, taking long, stealthy strides
like a panther about to spring, and seemingly
SO powerless over his own movements that he
knocked blindly up against those who stood
in his way, nearly upsetting them with the
violence of the collision.
The prowess or the pety Of this ardent de-
votion proved extraordinarily contagious
First one and then another of his brethren
caught the atfiatus and followed bis example
In few moments every part of the mosque
was the scene of some novel and horrible rite
Of self mutilation, performed by fresh
aspirant TO the favor Of Allah.
Several long iron splits, or prongs, were
produced and distributed; these formidable
implements were about two and half feet
in length and sharply pointed, and they
terminated at the handle in circular wooden
knob about the size of a large orange. There
was great competition for these Instruments
Of torture, which were used as follows: Pois-
ing one in the air, an Aissaoui would sud-
denly force the point into the flesh of his own
shoulder in front just below the shoulder
blade Thus transfxed and holding the
weapon aloft, he strobe swiftly up and down.
at signal, he fell on his knees,
still forcing the point into his body and keep
Ing the wooden head uppermost. Then there
started up another disciple armed with big
wooden mallet, and he, after few prelimi-
nary taps, rising high on tiptOe with uplifted
weapon would, with an appalling yell, bring
1own with all bis force upon the wooden
knob, driving the point home through the
shoulder of his comrade. Blow succeeded
blow, the victim wincing beneath the stroke,
but uttering no sound, and fixing his eyes
with look Of ineffable delight upon his tor
,urer, till the point was driven right through
he shoulder and projected at the back Then
he patient marched backwards and forwards
With the air and the gate of conquerinC
hero At one moment there were four Of
hese setl1i-naked naniacs within yard Of I
ny feet, transiixed ard trembling, bat beati- /
ied and triumphant.
The most singular feature Of ell, and the /
me that almost detes belief, though it is 4
hone the less true, was this: Tha, in no case
lid one drop Of blood emerge from tie scar,
II cash or wound. This fact observed most
'arefully, the mosadden standing at my side,
md each patient in turn coming to him when
us self-imposed torture had been accom-
oiisbed and the cataleptic frenzy had spert its
orce. IL was the chief who cunuingiy with
rev tbs blade from check or shoulder or
,ody, rubbing over the spot what appeared
o ne 10 be the saliva OF his own mouth then
le whispered an absclUtion in the ear Of the
lisciple and kissed him on the forehead. where
lpon the patient. but q moment before with
ng in nsaniacal transports, retired tran
Iuiily and TOOK his seat upon the floor. Re
eerned none the worse for bis recent parox-
-srn, and the wound was marked only by
ivid blotch or hectic flush
This was the scene that for more than an
our wen. CT without pause OF interTnisslon
efore nY eyes Amid the dest end sweat
nd insu-aratle heat the naked bodies q the
ctors shone with ghsstly paIior and ex-
AlAd sickeuing smell TIE atmosphere
eeksd with heavy and Intoxicating fumes