Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-08-02

the burnous is between them; . bunch
Of broom is thrown into the ring; both
struggle for 1t; between them it IS
lighted in the furnace; their hands and
arms arc thrust into the flames; one has
also seized bundle of dry fax. has
lighted it, and to my horror l ses him
press the flaming mass to his bare chest
and into his open mouth. Soon he falls
exhausted and another takes his place.
This one seizes a red-hot iron from the
fire; it burns his hair, smoke arises.
see him draw his hands across it and
lay it on his foot with yens and bowls
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 cactus plant growing in jar in
one corner Of the court-a species OF
priclsly 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 tho victim throws himself
on the ground beside the fire. Crouch
ing low before the altar, he places
his forehead on the ground, and
thus Inundated he ravenously de-
YOURS the thorny petals. As if
this were not enough, he springs
again to his feet, and, seizing
one of the pots of coal, he twirls it
about his head until the surface is
glowing red. The Makaddan kneels be-
side it. In 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
a cry of fendish joy, and, unlike his
predecessor, he takes his place among
his fellows, apparently without pain.
It is too dreadful. too uncanny to re-
count-the spiked iron thrust into the
flesh, the knotted cord. the jagged
sword-blade. One would have forced
out his eye, but Mohammed, by the
mouth of his servant Makaddan, for
bids the deed. Another threw himself
upon sword, and gray-haired man
played with fire as if it were harmless
as earth. There came nurmur among
the spectators, the first l had heard.
and the word Scorpion!" fell upon my
ear. Truly l had never expected to be-
hold 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 earthern ves-
sci, and must confess that American
curiosity got the better of American
manners. for ''see them" we would. and
see them we did. In color a pale pink,
in form long and narrow, with many
legs and a squirming sidewise motion
like crab. We shivered as the things
"CIC CnII1Cu posi-, Oue uOIIOI VI uOI,
rors was reached when q fine tall fell
low seized one, fearlessly tore it to
pieces, and devoured it before our eyes.
His motions were already SO violent
that was anxious to witness what
further effects the scorpion would pro-
duce, but in trying to investigate the
subject Of scorpions we had pressed for
ward from our shadowy cover. Alas
for US! in seeing we had been seen.
The effect was. instantaneous; but, in
respect to our self-esteem. l will say
we left with more haste than dignity.
The truth" entrenous us they let
these scorpions escape in our midst!
and for days afterward each member of
that clandestine party of visitors to the
dance "Alssaoui imagined every
passing sensation the warning throb of
coming dissolution, and an imaginary
death from scorpion poison haunted us
constantly. Cor. n. !. CONF
a0crctnI A1,.>rf;ecr