The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-11-12
HOME OF THE CHOLERA.
THE HOLY CITY OF THE
PERSIAN MosLEMs.



says a Constantinople correspondent
OF the Philadelphia Times Time
was when the dread disease made
Mecca its eadluarters and wai
thence scattered to the four corners
OF the globe by the hosts OF pilgrims
returning from that shrine. Pre-
eminently the holy city OF the Moslem
world. Mecca was and Is visited by O
J countless multitude OF worshipers
herded together in a truly horrible
stale OF uncleanliness The mr. ~
wonder Is that the ravages OF the
plague were not greater 1t still
exists there But British rule in
Egypt at Alden aud at Suez has
proved potent quarantine. and now
tho world is little menaced from that
| quarter.
Meshed-i-Muku or Meshed the
Holy. is now the offender-the most
sacred Moslem city in the world after
Mecca itself Within it is buried
Reza the eighth in the list OF the
twelve imams Of. caliphs recognized
by the Shias and Reza is the only
imam buried in Persia Hence the
especial holiness OF Meshed and the
reason why 1t Is visited annually by
vast hosts OF pilgrims called Meshc-
deea Not many European visitors
ever reach this holy city OF Persia
and none are even allowed to approach
the temple containing the tomb OF
Reza The myriads OF the faith ul go
there yearly. and 1t is now the place
where cholera is chiefly propagatedt
and from which 1t is carried into
other Asiatic countries and into
Europe itself by way OF Russia. : $.
| The traveller approaching Meshed
meets or overtakes thousands of-piI-
grims on the road. Some are alone.
some are in groups OF two or three.
some are In large parties. Some are
afoot but most OF the men are mounted
on horses, mules or donkeys. The
women are in curious contrivances,
half chairs half lltters. on tho backs
of mules. Those on their way toward
Meshed cry to the traveller who passes.
them also going hither: "Eltimassa
doah or Pray for us"-meaning at
the shrine OF Reza- The reply Isl,
| BE sharti hayat" or III wo live to
get there"
The actual tomb OF the imam Is
made OF a single stone seven feet long.
Around it is railingof sandalwood.
A foot or two outside OF this is secl
ond railing OF solid gold blazing
with jewels. This was erected
by Nadir Shah that amiable mon
arch who used to sit in a temple pray
ing all day. while his soldiers for
every word he uttered gougeG out the
eyes OF man. Another railing made
of steel Is outside OF this one.
Such Is the famous city OF holiness
and disease. from which nearly all
cholera epidemics of late years
have proceeded. But not only are
tho conditions there most favorable
to the propagation OF the plague but
the funeral customs that prevhii
throughout Persia seems TO have the.
same end in view. Adying man be.his
disease cholera or anything else lies
on mattress on the floor surrounded
by dozen or score OF relatives and
friends. The doctors ply their
remedies but in vain. A wild dervish
applies charms and amulets. but In
vain. The wife sits by the pillow.
yelled and weeping holding to her
husbands nostrils a bit of mud or
plaster torn from the wall and welded
with some aromatic liquid. The
doors and windows are shut tight A
dozen pipes Gil the air with tobacco
smoke. and from huge urn cups or
steaming tea are drawn and passed.
about AS last resort they kill "a
fowl and place it warm and bleeding
ut the dying mans feet But even
this proves unavailng and he
presently breathes his last. sssass
The widow leaves the bedside and
a priest takes her place. He fillstbe
mouth. ears and nostrils OF the corpse
with moistened cotton wool. com
poses the limbs and places cup of
water by the pillow. Then he 'rends
aloud some passages from the koran
while all the others loudly testify't thai.
the man was q good and true follower,
OF tho prophet Another priest goes
upon the roof and at the top of''his
voice recites other passages from tho
koran. thus announcing TO the neighs,
bors and to all passers-by that the
man is dead. Soon the house is.
filled with lamenting friends and kin;
drcd above whose tumult rises high,
and clear the shrill yelling OF, the pro-s
fcssional mourners The women rel
ativcs put on mourning costumes and
the men take knives and rip open
some OF the seams OF their own GAR,
mcnts TO give thcm the appearance
OF having been rent asunder In par
oxysms OF griof. They also 'daub
their hats with mud. in lieu OF throw
ing dust upon their heads. Finally
the washers of tho dead" come
They arc dospiscd outcasts who gain
livelihood by the performancei-,of.
this work. Thcy wash the corpse.
wrap it in a shroud place camphpr
about it and put IL In frail wooden
collin. a.1t5 ; 3. ~ ~,
Tho burial always occurs within
twenty-four hours OF tho death. The
coffin Is placed upon n bior and the
relatives contend with each othor for
tho honor OF bearing IL 10 tho grave,
This is esteemed II great privilege In
all Mohnmmcdnn countries. The
nearest relatives lay the body In, the
ahoIln,v uyoy.x y,,tocf ouye N ,~..,...