The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-05-21
on RED-no1 GOALS.
Barefooted Religionists Calmly Tread
a Path Of Blisteriug Heat.

Barefooted Religionists Calmly Tread
Path Of Blistering Heat.
In Rangooa the most interesting even
of the Moharram festival is undoubtedly
the fire-walking. On the seventh night Of
the last festival I started out about II As
o'clock, accompanied by an Englishman
and Mohammedan, to witness it. The
mosque was in narrow street leading
from Merchant street, but the crowd was
sogreat that we experienced no little diff
Guilty in reaching it. The night was dark,
and the Pickering lights of the vendors OF
chcroots, betelnut, sugar cane and other
things dear to the Asiatic heart, gave just
sufficient light to add delightful wearl7
ness to the scene. As we drew near to the
MOSQUE we heard the worshippers beating
their breasts and the voices of the men
and boys mingled in sad, wailing chant.
We assembled the steps to the veranda
of the mosque, where numbers of Asiatics
were gathered round the arched doors
gazing into the beautifully decorated
building. The Asiatics made way for US
at once, and standing on the threshold we
obtained good view of the worshippers
seated cross. legged on the floor and listen
ing attentively to the words which were
being read to them. For few moments
there would be silence, broken only by
the words of the priest, and then the wor-
shippers would break out into loud
chant, beating their breasts as they did so.
This was continued until about o'clock,
when those who were going to walk
through the fire left the mosque, and with
lighted torches in their hands and utter
ing loud cries. ran wildly through the
streets to another mosque. In about half
an hour they returned more excited than
ever.
Then the Mohammcdan led US into q
small tim Der house, which overlooked the
fire. 1t was dark, dirty place, and when
we entered a low-roofed room we found
ten or eleven coolies standing at the win
dow with their arms around each others
necks. The Mohammedan, who was their
landlord, soon bundled them out of the
room without the slightest ceremony.
The stencil was something fearful, and the
place swarmed with disgusting insects.
The heat was intense, for We were close
too close, almost-to the fire, but the view
we obtained was very good one. Just
below US was the fire-a charcoal one and
red hot, made up in ditch about twelve
yards long and three feet wide. For some
ten minutes before the ceremony num-
Der of men stood on each side of the fire,
waving backward and forward across it
pennants attached to long sticks. Then
wild shout announced the approach of
those who were to walk through the fire,
and the excitement was intense.
There were nine or ten of them, mostly
young men, who, shouting loudly and
beating their breasts wildly, walked bare
footed round and round the fire. Two
or three Of them lost courage, and were
supported on either side by membeas of
the mosque, who by words and wild ges
lures strove to excite them to bravery.
Once the leader of the procession halted
at the end of the long fire, as if he were
going to step into it, but he altered his
mind, and with still louder cries of en-
couragcment from their co-religionists
they walked round once more. The next
time, however, he did not hesitate for one
moment but stepped boldly into the red
hot fire and ran along it; the others fol-
lowed, some running quickly and others
walking, but not one of them shirked it.
Six or seven times they repeated this,
and although they must have been terri.
bly, burned, for frequently the red-hot
cinders stuck to their feet, no cry of pain
escaped them.-London Globe.