The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-09

leads uncovered lhey form into rings, some
thirty or forty perhaps in each ring. Drums
and flies and t0mtOms are brought ont. and
the hideOus music begins. slowly
they rise and fall In spasmodic jumps
10 the sound of the music. which
gradually increases In time, finally be-
coming a wild burst OF discord without any
attempt at tune. BY this time the spell has
begun to work. and the Aissoui-' little
jumps have become hideous leaps Their
long hair. a sign OF the sect. flies wildly
around their heads. while horrible cries
rend the air in every direction. They have
doubtless put themselves into state of
wild frenzy or madness. and seem totally NM
conscious Of what is going on. one
falls in ft-greon IN the face
and fOaming at the mOuth-tbe rest
leap and dance over him i'm a terri
bic ecstasy A live sheep Is thrown amongst
them by some Onlo0ker. Ia second 10 il
torn limb from limb. and each is wildly
tearing the raw flesh with hi, teeth. smear
ing his face and limbs with crimson blood.
II Is a scene that writing cannot describe.
that needs seeing 90 realize. Another
fayorite pastlme Of the lIamd0uchs is ID
throw cannOn-balls and heavy stones into
the mir. and 10 allow them 30 fall ON their
clean-shayen heads with thud that would
knock the brains ont OF most men. There
is no trickerv about any part OF the per-
iormance. The whole affair is to- horribly
real.
REroRfoF TIE HOUSE or LORDs.-The
Duke Of Argyll having received from a cor
respondent a copyof a letter from Lord
Rosebery stating that, in his opinion.
peer ought TO De given the choice of whe-
Their he wishes 90 enter ihe House Of Lords
or not and that d be has not had that choice
originally he should have the option of whe-
Their he wishes 10 remain there or not. his
Grace writes IN acknowledgment "Ihe
extract you send 10 me from some
letter from Lord Rosebery about the
House Of Lords looks 90 me very
like 'chah,' and was probably intended as
such. like very many other things coming
from the same quarter" Lord CaruaryOn,
writing in reply, SAYS he cannot undertake
10 give an answer 90 such AN inquiry within
the limits Of a letter-tirst. because he
hardly thinks the question raised is one
which can be- said fairly 10 come within the
range Impractical and present politics: and
secondly. that il Is only "a part Of "a much
larger question ON which. whenever the
time comes, Lord CarnaryOn will De quite
ready TO give his opinion.
PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND.-Aiter
a delay Of nearly five years. the committee
Of the Palestine exploration fund have re-
ceiyed their frman granting permission 10
eXcayate at and about a site previously
named by the committee and approved by
the Porte II is understood that all objects
except duplicates. found in the course 10
the excavations shall be forwarded 90 the
museum 40 COnstanilnople. but that the
committees agents shall have the right OF
making squcezes. sketches, MODELS photo
graphs. and copies of an such objects. The
committee have secured the services OF Mr.
Flinders Petrie. who will proceed fo syria
on completion Of bis present work in the
FayOum. The committee Will make spc-
cial collection for funds 70 carry out the
work.
BELGIAN POPULATION -TAIsrICs.-Ihe
annual official Statistical Report of Belgium.
indicates a decline in the population. ln
the decade ending with 1871 the average iu-
crease was Ifs of The previous population.
i'm the following decade 10 rose tO 3.2l. lu
the five years ending with l,>l the average
rate 81 Increase fen iO 1903. hy the end ui
1857 IL was af 2.nl. and fOr lso@. the rate was
only 2.9i. 10 is worth noting that. while thc
general ratio of births is thus declining, tho
proportion Of illeuiimate births is rising.
In 1850 the number NJ such births was IT,
81: in ISIS they bad expanded io 1880.
being an Increase Of more than ~ per cent.
on the former number
REMISSION or RENT ord Wil.oulhDy
de Eresby has minated 90 the whole oi biz
North Wales tenantry that be will return
30 per cent. on their rents. This is thc
fourth year in succession that the Ten antrl
have received % per cent remission.