The Indianapolis journal., 1889-12-01
INDIANIANS In PERSIA.
How Fanatical Mohammedans Celebrate a
Feast in Memory Of the Prophet.

The Hendricks County Republican prints
a letter from DR.. j. &. Wishard. who re-
Gently went to Persia as a missionary, dated
Oroomiah Oct. l. He had just returned
from trip to Tabriz. having ridden horse
back all the way from the Mediterranean
sea, more than 1.500 miles. through Asia
Minor, northern Syria, Mesopotamia. KOor-
distan aud the western provinces of Persia.
Tabriz was his objective point and journeys
end. 1t is about four hundred miles north
west of Teheran. the capital of Persia, and
is place of 100000 population. Dr.. Wish
ard writes:
THE city is strongly Mohammedan, and
1t is hard for us Americans to reaiize just
what that means, unless we are in posi-
tiOn to come III daily contact with its
fanaticism. A Mohammeian will not
drink out of the same cup nor eat anything
that has been touched by a Christian. They
call all Christians who are not Mohamme-
dams. 1t is no uncommon thing tor a Mos
lem to brush of a chair on which has been
Before they will take a dose of medicine
they will always ask If it is clean, meaning
if ir Is In any way contrary to their
religion.
Il was in Tabriz at the time of the Mo-
haram This is an annual festival held to
celebrate the tragic death of their prophet
Ali, the rightful successor, as held by tine
Persians, of MahOmet. Nowhere in the
world can it be seen in all its awfulness rs
in Tabriz. For ten days all business is sus-
pended, all police surveillance Is removed
and the city is turned loose To the Dervsh-
es. and the most vicious element. who flock
here in great numbers at this time. In the
yard of the Crown Prince is erected a great
play representing the death of Ali. Flags
are all hung at half mast and many public
buildings are heavily draped. Day and
night the streets are filled with a bowling
mob torturing themselves in every possi-
BILE way. On the tenth day the climax is
reached and the most cruel and barbarous
practices are INDUCED in. l had heard
much of this celebration, and was of course
anxious to see it in its worst form.
"On this tenth day was awakened quite
early by the blowing of horns, firing of
guns and all manner of hideous noises. /
went out on one of the fiat roofs near the
central part of the city, where l could get
a good view. The streets were filled with
men, women and children awaiting the
parades, for the celebration had taken on
the form of professions. which were march
ing through the principal portion OF the
city. Five hundred participants passed onr
point of observation in something like the
following order:
First came a hundred men stripped of
all clothing down to the waist. each carry
ing a piece of a heavy iron chain with
which they beat their backs by throwing
the chain over their shoulders at each step.
Many of them had SO beaten tbemse Ives
that their backs had much the appearance
of pounded beefsteak. Following these
chain men were others dressed in sack
cloth with their faces covered with
ashes. Next were q number of chill
dren on horseback, who tore their
hair and in other ways tortured
themselves. Finally came a number of
men with shaved heads, dressed in long
white gowns made of muslin. each of whom
| carried a short. sharp sword with which at
| every step he wonld cut his head and cry
| 'Ali.' Many had SO cut their heads that
I; the bones of the Uranium were quite ex-
| posed. Others became 80 frenZied by the
! sight of the blood that they committed
| suicide. while still greater number fell by
! the way completely exhausted from the
| great loss of blood. Two of these parades
| met. and as neither wOuld give the street
| fight ensued and sixteen men were killed.
"Other men went about the streets with
! ell their clothing removed down TO their
| waists with q sword stuck between the
| skin and flesh on either side. Some carried
| four long swords i'm this way with the ends
| of the handles coming together above their
heads. Murders are common. a. men can
avenge a real or imaginary wrong on this
| day without much fear of pun ishment.
"By noon of the tenth day the celebration
/ was over and except for the blood on the
| streets no one. had he not known, would
| have guessed that anything unusual had
| taken place, for the city had again re.
sumed its usual monotony."