New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-09
Hicted by the jagged edges Of the stones IN the

Now and then as they make their way along
these processions:s raise the swords they carry
and cause the sharp blades TO fall heavily upon
their heads infcting f.esher and deeper wounds.
from which the blood begins to drip anew AS
they do this the spectators raise their eyes sky
wards beat their hands against their breasts,
and exclaim Behold our pious ones. y
Ghosseinr' See the pillars OF our righteousness!
The cries become louder the calls upon
"Ghosseln" more vocifer. us. and then the first
Of the martyrs makes his appearance. walking by
the side of some score OF the bood-stained sword
bearers He is a tall. m"scular fellow. swarthy
looking and black browed. He wears nothing Out
a pair of very short white drawers. and his head
is unshaven and unshorn. Like the others ne
carries in his right hand a sword the sharp
edge Of which pressing against his forehead cuts
II to the very bone. In the skin above the eye
brows five long. sharp wooden skewers have
been stuck. and stand upright like so many
quilts on the back Of porcupine. Through the
ft sh where the ear joins the cheek the catches
of a couple of heavy iron padocks have been
forced and there secured. a couple OF sharp
edged swords crossed over the breast. the
points meeting upon the abdomen In such way
to saw and cut the skin and flesh at each
step taken. The handles stand above the shoui-
ders. and held In position by copper chains
attached TO them and fastened TO the pad!ocks
secured 10 the side Of the ears In the neshy
part Of the shouderblades two great iron skew
ers are stuck and two more similarly fixed
in the muscles of the chest. Through the mus
cles covering the thighs a sharp sword has been
driven each side. the handle In front and the
point coming out behind. The ends are supported
by heavy iron chains hanging from the skewers
in the breast and shoulderblades. Twp swords
are crossed over the back. the handles ted 10
the hempen waistbelt and the sharp points rising
on each side OF the neck which they score and
cash The muscles of the upper arm are stuck
all over with wooden skewers pushed deep into
the flesh. and to these weights are attached.
while clear through the neshy integument are
driven couple Of short daggers. the extreinities
Of which secured by chains and padlocks
fastened we'll in the arms. Wherever there Is
room on the arms. chest. back and shoulders,
small iron hooks. Ike those used by butchers ~
this country have been firmly fixed in the flesh.
and from each Of these hangs. first, little glass
mirror that bangles and glitfers In the sunlight.
and then fairly heavy weight. "A double row
Of these butcher hooks and little mirrors goes
right round the body. just above the waist. ana
gives a sort OF ornamental finish 10 the mpie-
ments OF torment with which the entire upper
body Of the martyr is covered. The weights at
tached to the hooks and skewers fixed IN the
flesh enlarge and keep open the WOUNDS. anu
cause. OF course. the most exquisite torture
The face OF the martyr Is drawn. and the LETT
hand hanging by the side is clenched with agony
But the man passes on. his eyes flxed upon the
ground giving no other outward sign Of the tor
ment he IL voluntarily enduring There are more
than a score ~ these martyrs" In the process
sion who march along, the blood dripping from
their open wounds they g by. one has -FOUR
swords stuck through his thighs. two on each
side and another has driven sword through
the muscles OF the back. one faints and falls IN
sensible upon the ground. but his white-clothed
companions raise him. and. senseless as he Is.
push and haul him along while the specta tors
do no breasts
"Ghossen." and weep The Shlites are a good
deal given 10 tears on such occasions Perhaps
the fact tina; each tear they shed IL held to
wash away mountan-high heap ~ sin may ac-
count for their readiness
Immediately after the martyrs come the der
wishes headed by venerable black bearded saint
Of high repute. who l!nps slowly and painfully
along. For attached II each ~ HIS ankles are a
heavy chain and stone. the stone having been
drawn all the way from kerhela. The holy city,
where both the Imams All and IiOsseln are IN
TERED. These clogs cannot weigh loss than
quarter Of a hundredweight each. and II Is only
with labor that the holy man. whose conical
black hat and long garment are embroidered
over with sentences from the Koran. can make
his way. As he passes. all the women In the
crowd rush out 20 touch him. for the touch 81
his person. and even u his garments. brings
blessing 70 the house and is OF sovereign efficacy
In securing the alta chment OF their husbands. as
well as a cure for childlessness. The dervlshes
to the number Of eighty or 80. are escorted by
some hundreds II penitcnts In violent mourning
robes who do nothing but look upward and beat
their breasts = the rhythmical cry. "Oh. Ghos-
SEM" which never ceases while the procession
IS on the march. Behind comes a square wooden
structure a sort II palanqun, covered with
draperies and silken hanglngs. borne on the
shoulders Of six penitcnts In this recnes. richly
dressed. "A lad who represents the nephew and
son-n-law OF the Imam Hosseln whom the saint
reluctantly allowed 10 take part In the fatal cam
paign against Yezid.
on one side Of the young Imams reprcsenta-
five walks Tartar. hearing on his clean-shaven
head tray containing the ilagons. cups and
vessels used az the ceremony of betrothal. ana
on the other side young man OF martial aspect.
in the ancient military garb Of Tartary-coat OF
chain armor. open In front TO show the vest.
pointed steel cap round which the turban IS
twisted. loose trousers tucked into high Unframed
leather boots and armed with an inlad axe ana
shield. The latter represents the warrior of
YeZid who slew the young Imam Last OF all
comes the image Of the defunct saint himself
resting on bier carried by half dozen follow
ers. The image is only dummy figure. with
the shinb0ne oi an ok. to which piece oi
bloody flesh Is still hanging. stuck where the
throat would be- remind the spectators Of the
manner Of IIosseins death. The body Is stuck
all over with darts, and couple Of doves typical
Of innocence. are perched each side Of the bier
At the foot Of the figure kneels n boy yelled from
head to foot with blood-stained cloth. His
face is covered leaving only hole where the
mouth should be. and from this Is suspended a
piece Of red felt, representing a tongue lollng
out, and designed 10 convey to the onlookers the
fact that the Imam and his family suffered from
thirst Inc SiBnt 81 liOSSelH DIET tHt SyiiIooiS
OF his murder move the assembled multitude to a
degree almost incredible. Men who would not
hesitate to cut neighbours throat for the sake
Of a set OF pretty brass buttons that took their
fancy weep like children. and nothing Is heard
but the sound OF sobbing and waiing. with the
ever-recurring lament "Oh Ghossein" as the
martyr procession passes out OF sight.
The rear f. brought up by the actors. who are
to perform the last act In the Hossein play
which concludes the Moharrem Festival. They
are unpaid saving one or two who are profess
sIonaI actors from Persia noted for their de-
clamatory powers. AS tragedy and comedy are
inseparabc, so does the throng Of players that
marches along now furnish motley contrast TO
the procession that has just gone by. Each
actor is allowed to dress as he pleases. and the
result IS comical, in tho eyes Of European
sncctator at all events There is an Arabian
Khalif In the costume OF Russian tchinovnyik