The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-09-29
Where Cholera BrOods.

ohN ~ Nhi'lhl hNNobAShtloh ia |
the spot that cholera originates in Mecca
itself and in the valley of Muna, and no.
where else. Tho testimony of Sir Rich
ard Burton, likewise of the German trav-
eler Won Nathan, who visited Mecca 30
years ago during one of the pilgrimages,
il corroborative in every respect Of
Rohlfs' opinion.
The cholera is caused partly by the
observance of a custom that began, put
ting it exactly, March 0, 1892. That day,
coming into the vale Of Muna at the
head Of his followers, the prophet Mo-
manned sacrificed with his own hands
So camels-one for every year of his life.
His followers numbered 100, 900, and
each of these killed a camel or some other
animal, so the story goes that 100, 900
dumb creatures were thus sacrificed in
honor Of Mohammed's sixty-third birth
day. Whether this story is literally true
or not, certain it is that every year a large
number of sheep and camels are slain in
sacrifice at the coming together Of the
pilgrims to Mecca. The earth becomes
u sea of blood. Sir Richard Burton
writes that Once when in this vicinity
he made all possible haste to get out of
the pestilential valley, as the stencil was
something awful. Between 5000 and
5000 animals were thus sacrificed with
in Burton's knowledge.
Thiu ha,ViJ nit, limo ,,nu. l,.., ,,n,,
ally celebrated upon the anne blood
soaked earth for 1850 years. To this
must be added two almost equally dis
turbing facts. One is that the hundreds
of thousands Of pilgrims from the fringe
Of north Africa, from Arabia and else
where never change their Undertaking
from the time they set cut till their re-
turn. The pilgrims from the north
African coast journey to Mecca in
steamers that are dangerously over
crowded. Tier" is no II to interfere
and prescribe 10 the captain the number
of pilgrims he shall carry on their ''holy"
mission. Disease and death are conse-
qucntly rampant upon even these ships.
Your Mohammcdan has q deadly horror
Of being buried at sea. Consequently
the corpscs of those VINO die on ship
board are concealed in the steamer be-
low decks ill the pilgrims return home,
when there is Il big funeral.
Won Nathan saw an army of pilgrims
perform the terrible sacriticial rite in
the vale Of Muna. The crowd numbered
10000 people. At their head was the
cadi Of Mecca. The adi held II live sheep,
painted in gaudy cOlors. AT IL given
signal the cadi turned the sleeps head
toward the house of the prophet and cut
its throat. About IA third Of the pill
griins were provided likewise with
sheep, and they Immediately slaughtered
them in a similar mann'S. Won Malt
IAN writes, The sight was 80 horrible
that ] fed from the place and returned
to Mecca Perhaps Mr.. Webb, who il
trying TO convert the American pcopl,
to the holy, peaceful and clearly Moslen
religion. will explain these facts TO Us.
AT any rate, the Turk and his follow
erS. are ,unspeakahle il more ways than
one. CIVILIZED naiioTS ought for theil
own protection TO rise and suppress thes'
/ monsirous pilgrilnagcs. Cholera Away
. breaks out among the pilgrims. i woul'
be II miracle were 1t otherwise. The con
ditions are aggravated 10y the fact tina
, the visit to Mecca is made during tn,
hot months. All the faithful cannot &c
; into the vale Of Muna at once. Tens o
/ thousands camp upon the border anc
breed pcstilonce; then they go away ant
trail il over the world.
OF the 5000 dcludcd wrctchcs that lcf
/; TuniS and ncighboring ports i'll May last
only half returned. The rest died o
cholera. At tine SO called Sacred Noun
where the hosts assemble To hear II sol
4 cmm address before visiting the birth
9 place and shrine Of the prophet Their
l were 10000 persons June II. Many O
them were starving, and hundreds ha'
died of cholera. while hundreds of other
@ were dying. Worst of all, aid could no
be secured to bury the cOrpscS. FINAL,
Il battalion of 700 Turkish soldiers went
+ this charncl house to put the dead unde
g ground. Five hundred Of these soldier
5 themselves died of cholera.
q These facts are not pleasant, but it
e time civilized people were made nc
Quainted with them. Imagination ca
picture nothing more awful or loatl
some than these pilgrimagcs. Dow
h with them, even if to stop them III
e Turk must br cStcrminated, EurOr
o and America should unite and suppres
4 them with an iron hand.
y The people of the United States expec
II the members Of the national guard j