Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1890-01-19
sunhrrEs AND sArn1r


49,
SheiteA The Turks arc all SunnItes.
the Pertains all SheiteA Thoy dinsr
In that the latter regard All. the
nephew and son-inlaw Of MohAmmed.
with greater love than they do Mo-
manned himself. Ali married FatimA
Mohammed's daughter. and by her had
two sons, Hassan and Hussein. It 4,
said hat Mohammed predicted their
death; and indeed nj day Ali and his
two sons and alaEge number Of friends
and adherents were massacred. The
Sheites declare that Mohammed an.
compassed their death, and to this day
the two scots hate each other even
moro than they do the Christians Tho
anniversary Of this fatal day IL cele-
brated re!igiously every year among
tho Sheitea They gather in groups
around a certain man. who, seated in
their midst on some elevated spot, be-
gins the recital in a monotone of Tho
tragedy. Gradually he warms up, he
becomes excited. he throws ap his
hands. he even sobs with anguish IA
he proceeds. and graphically describes
the misfortunes OF the Inflated All and
his two sons.SSAnd tho audienee. with
downcast eyes. %reyerently shaded with
their hands. follow with all absorb-,
Ing interest his words Presently they
begin to sob. and finally to cry aloud
with anguish. and cat their heads and
breasts and ear their hair. The re-
otter sways his audience with thronR-
ing words ofpassion, with soft whispe 9
Of entreaty, with broken CALCULATIONS
Of agony. Then suddenly his mood
changes. What has passed has boon
\ confession Of their sin and q confess
sion OF the Justice OF any punishment
that might fall on them. For the
Sheites we're originally Sunnites and
approved OF tho death Of Ali, and It
was only later hat thcy became
Sheites and seceded from the Sunnites,
and by this ceremony they lament over
and expiate tho sins Of their forefn-
theirs. And now succeeds earn
est prayer with appraised hands
to God to receive Ali and his
sons into favor and to par
don them in His mercy. Then. whom
this Is finished, nargilehs or hubble
bubbles are handed round, and tho
whole company enjoy a quiet smoke to
calm their excited feelings. In some
places knives are made use OF and
fearful wounds self in Inflicted, and in
some cases death has resulted. Last
year (1S8S) the anniversary was on
September 10. But with tho pilgrims
We had this ceremony continually,
night and day, until 1t became a
nuisance, and orders were given that
after eight p. m. no more noise should
be made. Yet, strange TO say, while
accusing him OF this murder and con-
demning his action. the Sheites do not
deny that Mohammed is the true and
only prophet Of God. With the Sum
mites Ali and his sons are OF no ao-
count-Cornhill Magazine.
HISTORIC OZARK DAYS."
Phenomona Duo To Worry Heavy, Thiol
Clouds, Mingled with Smoke.
The dark day" first mentioned 90.
CURED In New England on May 10.
1880. The darkness became as erea,
as it ordinarily is on a clear night.
Candles were lighted in houses, and
many superstitioas Reoplo were great
ly alarmed. dropped their labors, and
betook themselves to religious devo-
tons 1t appears that, with regard
TO the state OF the atmosphere preced-
ing this uncommon darkness, 1t was
noticed In many SECTIONS, for several
days before, hat the air seemed to be
oil smoky and vaporous character.
The sun and moon exhibited an unu-
sual color, and Invested of their usual
brightness and lucid aspect. The
time OF tho commencement OF this ex-
~traordinary darkness was between the
hours OF ten; and eleven In the fore
noon OF Friday, and continued until
tho middle Of tho following night.
Tho morning was cloudy and darkish,
and the sun, rising towards the zenith,
gavo no increase OF light, as usual.
but on the contrary. tie darkness con-
tinued to increase throughout the day.
The color OF objects Is another point OF
interest That Of the clouds was COM
pounded OF n faint red yellow and
brown-that, during the darkness OBJ
jects which commonly appear green,
were OF he deepest green verging to
blue, and that those which appear white
were tinged with yellow. In most
places thunder was heard a numbsr OF
times In the morning. Tho clouds
soon began to rise from the southwos
with n gentle broezo, and there were
several small showers before eight
o'clock. Tho water that fell VIVA
found to have an unusual character.
boing thick, dark and sooty. Thu
rain-water which people saved IN
tubs was tho subject OF universal and
wondering remark. On examining
tho water thore was found n light
upon It, which, on being rubbed
botwoen tho thumb and fngor, seemed
70 resemble the black ashes Of burnt
leaves; tho water also gave tho Same
strong sooty smell which Character
izcd tho alr.t There Is no doubt but
that tho upper mir was charg sd with
tho smoke OF burning forests, prob
ably MANY miles away, and that tho
pressure Of the, atmosphere becoming
loss Ut wis noted that tho barometer
foil considerably this smoke came
earthward. and was mingled With tho
heavy rain clouds.
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