Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-19

1 Cory stssy Of RsllsIsss Zeal irsa ~ r.
East.

eo8ys
Since coming to COngtantlnOple rome
seven mOnths ago, says COnstantinOple
correspondent OF the Globe Democrat.
have Witnessed many novel ceremonies.
civic. military and religiOus-the Christ
mas fctcs OF the Greeks. Armenians and
Turks: the religious Greek ceremony
called 1.-THE blessing Of the water: the
starting OF the sacred caravan to Mecca;
she weekly "Selamilk." or the Sultan's
procession to the mosque, and other ccre-
monies of minor imTortance--but they all
pale into irssignhcance when compared
with the religious ceremony Witnessed
last Thursday night. That ceremony was
the annual celebration by the Persians Of
this city OF the martyrdOm OF the two
grandchildren Of the Prophet MOhammed.
Hassein and Hussein. am not sufficiently
versed In the religious history Of Persia
to state how the war came about In
which these two distinguished individuals
lost their lives, but know from hearsay
that they died TN the religious cause Of
the Mussulman. and their deaths are
the Mohammedan faith, especially the
Persians.
The accounts of this ceremony given
me by the consul general who had wit
curiosity, and | kept a careful watch on
my little ''almanach de poche Tusage
du Levant' which shows the dates for
all the festivals, religious and otherwise.
taking place in the Turkish capital. The
seth Of the month of Mouharem cores
spending with the 10th of June in our
calendar, at last arrived, and my chance
for verifying the strange stories which
had been told me OF the "Hassein and
Hussein" ceremony was at hand.
COnstantinOple has q Persian pOpula-
ton of some 10000 souls. mostly resident
In the STEAMBOAT quarter. The majority
of tho malo portion of this number are
in the mercantile business, and buy and
sell rugs. embroideries spices. fine furni-
ture. ETC.. and all of their PAGES of bust
ness are in five great buildings called
hans" The Valideh han Is the largest
OF the five, and beneath its rcd-tiled roof
some 400 Persians have their homes and
shops. 1t Is great structure OF gay
stone built around an open square, in
the center of which Is a small mosque
where the inmates attend religious wor-
ship. The entrance to the numerous tiny
shops Is had from the inside of the square.
The building could well serve as a for
sress. for after the massive iron gates at
the single entrance are closed and locked
the place is well nigh impregnable. 1t
Is in the great square OF the Valdez han
that the principal part of the ceremony
which am attempting TO describe takes
place. and at 100 O'Clock last Thursday
night our party was ait its entrance. The
big gates on this occa sion were of course
wide open. and through the opening
poured a never-ending throng of fantasia
caily CARRIED humanity. Our party made
quito an imposing procession as We en-
sered the brilliantly Illuminated square.
The gorgeOusly uniformed "cavasses'' of
the American legation and consulate,
general. and the military attendant OF his
cxcellency. Woods Pasha. headed the line
the crowd was so dense that we had to
30 in single fiis-and then followed Minis
ter Terrell. COnsul-General Short. Woos
Pasha, the ladies OF our party. number
ing four and. bringing up the rear. your
humble servant. with Count dOyIey
PARKWAY Moses of "Innocents Abroad
fame. who was with us as guide. friend
and philosopher, and two or three guests
Of the Pera Palace hOtel. who had asked
permission to accompany the expedition.
The scene as we entered sthe square was
O most incongruouS one, for in strong
contrast to the innumerable lights and
iiercely blazing torches. all of the shop
fronts We're heavily draped In deepest
the ever increasing thrOng, and finally
reached the space which had been re-
served for our party by the friendly
Moses. There We found comfortable
chairs and. seating ourselves, were ready
10 witness the ceremony.
Soon the sound of cheering. accOmpa-
MED by the beating of drums and the
playing of flies. was heard and presently
the center of the square appeared the
head of the PROCESSION. F1rt came dog
en- men bearing great tOy46es and i'm
mesiiately following a dozen more dressed
from head TO foot in robes of funeral
black. These last were giving utterlnces
to the most pitiful cries. wringing their
hands and sobblng as if their hearts were
breaking. / could distinguish the oft-re-
peated words. "HaSsein and Hussein'
end Moses told me that they were telling
the story of the tragic death OF these two
sons of All. While watching the group
heard the sounds OF sobbing Mt my side.
an n
tune sObbing bitterly. He was not alone
in his grief(O. for every Persian in sight
was similarly occupied. and ! rightly
came to the conclusion that such proceed
ure was a part of the ceremony
Following on the heels of the mourners
came dozen priests. all In black, and
behind them a half dozen men bearing a
queer looking object, somewhat resem- |
ping in shape bath chair. but almost
hidden with black cloth and crepe. Then
followed beautiful white horse, almost !
hidden from view with exquisitely en- |
broidered shawls and scarfs. Astride OF
the animal was a small boy dressed in
flowing robes of spotiess white the crown
of his head shaven. and carrying in his
Ettle hands fierce looking sword the
use OF which l was to learn later on. In ,
front or the youngsters perched upon the |
proudly curved neck of the horse were a /
number of snow white pigeons
Then followed more torch bearers and {
q body of about 200 men each with the .
IeIt breast hlred. 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 scourge." These '.scourges'' were
made In the shape OF a. cato -nine-tatls."
the tails" however. being made of close
~ linked chains instead of the stout
leather which usually characterizes this
ancient instrument OF punishment for in
sailors. Then came more
torches and a double line of about 200
men. each with the top of his head close
~ shaver. 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 body of about
100 school children all neatly uniformed
In suit of blue cloth. They We're led by
a half grown youth. who sang a line or
two and the youngsters came in on the
refrain. The melody was very like some
or our old time darby songs and most
to the ear
Three times did this strange procession
T@trcn around the square. and then left ia
repeat their performance at aneighboring
man, 1t was not long gone. however. for
ioon renewed cheering was heard. and the
re-entercd the Vildeh square, 4
Wnen the white horse came again into
view was Mortified to see that the white
Iones or Its little rider were bloodstained