The Portland daily press., 1897-07-13

hidden with black cloth and crepe. Then
followed a beautiful white horse, almost
hidden from view with exquisite1y en-
broidered shawls and scarfs. Astride of
the animal was a small boy dressed in
flowing robes of spotless white, the crown
of his head shaven, and carrying in his
little hands fierce looking sword, the
use of which l was to learn later on. In
front of the youngster perched upon the
proudly curved neck of the horse were a
number of snow white pigeons.
Then followed more torch bearers and
a body of about 200 men each with the
left breast barred, then another body of
men with barred backs, each carrying in
his right hand an instrument of self tor
ture, which Moses says was known as the
"chain scorrge" These ''scourges'' were
made in the shape of a cato -nine-tails,"
the tails, however, being made of close
ly linked chains instead of the stout
leather which usually characterizes this
ancient instrument of punishment for in
subordinate sailors. Then came more
torches and a double line of about 200
men. each with the top of his head closely
shaven. They were dressed in flowing
robes of white and carried swords of every
conceivable description. These men
walked sideways, the lines facing each the
other. Lastly came a body of about 100
school children all neatly uniformed in
suit of blue cloth. They were led by a
half grown youth, who sang a line or two
and the youngsters came in on the re-
frain. The melody was very like some of
our old time darby songs and most pleas
ing to the ear
Three times did this strange procession
march around the square, and then left to
repeat their performance at a neighboring
han. 1t was not long gone, however, for
soon renewed cheering was heard, and the
procession re-entered the Vildeh square.
When the white horse came again into
view l was Mortified to see that the white
robes or its little rider were bloodStained
and that a crimson stream was running
down his face from wounds he was, ap
parently, inficting in his scalp with the
sword he carried. The poor pigeons, too,
were bloodstained, and even the priceless
shawls and scarfs had great splotches of
the crimson gore on them.
The mourners came again with re-
doubled lamentations, followed by the
men with the barred breasts. These were
shouting the names Hassein, Hussein,
with mOnotonous regularity, accompany
ing each cry with a terrific blow Of the
right hand on the barred left breast The
sound thus produced somewhat resembled
the simultaneous discharge Of number
of small arms.
Then followed the men with the "chain
scourges.' They, too, were shouting the
names of HasSein and Hussein, and with
each shout they would swing the scourge
over their heads, the chains striking the
bare skin with a vicious swish, leaving
cruel white welts. There was no make
believe about the force of the blows, for
already the skin on the backs of some was
broken and bleeding freely.
And then l witnessed a most horrible
sight. The men who I told you were
dressed in white robes and carried swords
next came into view. They were blood
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walked sideways, and with every cry of
"Hassein! Husseinl p the swords came
down on their unprotected heads. At first
l could hardly believe my eyes, and tried
to persuade myself that they had merely
besmeared their faces and dresses with the
blood of some animal, but as they drew
near saw that it was with their own
blood, from self-inficted wounds, that
these poor fanatics were disfgured. AS
the two lines passed the place where l
was standing, and could have touched
those nearest me by stretching out my
arm, saw the swords raised, their fall
and the squirt of blood which followed the
contact of the blade with the bare scalp
The white shirt waists of the women of
son fluid. 1t was horrible, incredible,
disgusting. shrank back as far as l
could, and would have fled the place had
such thing been possible. The women
of our party were terribly affected, and
fter one Mortified look at the CHASTITY
scene turned away and buried their faces
in their trembling hands. To get away
at that moment was next to an impossi-
bility, and we were forced to remain to
the bitter end.
Again the procession passed, the frenzy
of the principal actors increasing every
minute. They were by this time beyond
control and were inficting terrible
dc on, ~. - IL
participants walked back of them, sticks
in hand. with which they would ward off
the blows. Several of the men fell to the
ground in fa1nting condition and were
quickly borne from the scene by eager,
hands of their compatriots. At the third
and last turn of the procession around the
square those who could still walk stag
gered along as though they were badly in
toxicated, and were horrifying sights.
Their heads and faces were one mass of
clotted blood and their once white robes
were fairly dripping with blood. We left
the scene of this barbarous ceremony with
the least possible delay. My hands treln-
bled, my steps were unsteady, there was
taste of blood in my mouth, taste
which follows the extraction of trouble
some tooth, and crimson mist rendered
dim my eyesight. Never will again
voluntarily witness such scene. A bat
tie Held after desperate engagement be-
tween opposing forces could not possibly
be more sanguinary in appearance.
Today am told that three of the men
who participated in Thursday nights
ceremony have since died of their wounds
I was not surprised to hear that his ex-
cellency, the Persian ambassador. refused
to attend the ceremony, saying he disap-
proved of it and thought it should be
prohibited. A Greek friend tells me that
the ceremony at Teheran and Tavriz in
Persia is much more horrible than the
one here. The one witnessed was surely
"gory" enough to satisfy the most exact
ing. Compared to it Spanish bull fight
is as tame as a church sociable.
Civil Service Examination.