The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-06-22
"HAssAN, HUssEINi"
The Great Persi.n Passion Play Lasts
leu Months.

Teu Months.
On the night Of the 10th of the Arab
mon h Mouharrem, took place at Con-
stantinople the annual ceremony In COM
memoration of the death Of Hassnn and
Hussein, whom the Persians venerate as
the real SUCCESSORS of the prophet Mo-
hammed, but who are not accepted by tho
Turks. In this way the Mohammedans
are divided into two great scots and hate
each other accordingly.
When Mohammed died he named rs his
successor, according to tine Turks, Abu-
bekr, who was succeeded by Omar and
o thman, and eventually Yezid, who con-
s.dered himself caliph. But the Persians
commended that Mohammed should have
been succeeded by his son-in-law, All,
and that the callphate should descend in
o direct line. In consequence Hassan and
Hussein were invited to go to Persia to
take up the caliphate. Hassan, however,
was poisoned at Medina, and Hussein
and his family were pursued by fezid
and his army, surrounded at last on the
plains near Bagdad, cut off from water,
and eventually all were killed.
In Persia the commemorstion Is most
elaborate and lasts the first ten days Of
he month. Every incident leading up to
he murder is depicted. Here in Con-
antinople only the ceremonies Of the
st day are observed. Ths Turks natur-
lily do their best to prevent the celebra-
ton, but with no success, and every year
the ceremony takes place. 1t Is, without
exception, the most barbarous and hor-
rfble sight that can be seen, and am
afraid few people win believe that the
scenes am about to describe actually
take place in Europe at the end Of the
nineteenth century.
The principal place where the ceremony
is held is the Valide khan, STEAMBOAT.
Two other khans are also utilized, but
the valide khan is the most convenient.
The Valide khan is one of the old
caravanseries. On entering through
u great archway and gate one finds one
self in large square, with shops on all
sides. The building was originally
night refuge for caravans. There being
no entrance but the one gateway, the
walls all around being very high and
solid, u caravan would be perfectly safe
from the attacks which were very COM
mon in those days. The camels and
other beasts .of burden remained
unloaded In the centre, and the rooms
around were occupied by merchants and
travellers. The rooms have now been
converted into shops and are occupied by
Persian merchants.
In the 10th Of Mouharrem the fronts OF
the shops are taken out and the interiors
arranged much like boxes at theatres, ex-
cept that they are hung with black and
decorated with eut-glass chandeliers.
The likeness TO a theatre Is heightened
by the boxes being some five feet above
the level of the ground. In front Is a
space roped off, where spectators who are
not favored with an invitation to the
boxes find places Outside the ropes is u
row OF soldiers, the invariable accom-
paniment OF all religious ceremonies IN
Turkey.
nv begins. Braziers of wood are lighted
and kept burning by constant supply OF
petroleum being poured ON them. In the
distance most doleful dirge Is heard,
announcing the approach of the process
sions At this sound all the Persians
begin to groan and weep, and the air is
filled with the sound OF acknowledgements
the sickly smell Of the burning petro-
leum.
Presently the procession comes into
view, headed by the musicians, who are
provided with flutes, which produce the
most melancholy notes 1t is possible to
imagine. Then come bearers OF banners,
priests and hordes with crossed swords
on their backs, and then two lines or
men in white smocks each holulng the
others girdle with the left hand anu
brandishing a naked sword in his light.
a nj nj
horting them, telling them OF the suffer-
ings OF Hassan and Hussein. Each OF his
sayings is announced by shouts OF
''Hassan, Hussein! by the white figures
and groans and sobs from the spectators.
After they had been round the square
three times they go TO visit the other
khans.
Other professions follow, some COM
posed of numbers of men beating their
breasts while the priests are telling the
story; others, composed OF horses richly
draped, carrying cages, in which are
children and women; others again beat
ing themselves with chains, and one OF
the children singing. At last they all
pass and silence intervenes for a Few min
ltes, when suddenly the original mea In
white appear, but now they ara fright
fully excited and are slashtng ut their
foreheads with their swords. Their white
dresses are covered with blood. Inc
fitful light of the braziers adds to the
horror OF the scene, which appears 10 Do
a confusion of naked swords ana blood
Round and round the square they go.
Now and then one drops from exhaustion
and is carried away. Presently they dis
appear and the horses and children are
sineared with blood. So IL goes ON Till
all the gangs have had their turn. Nat
ually, toward the end 1t gets worse as
they are more excited. If left to them
selves they would do themselves some
great injury but behind them men are
Watching, with slaves of wood, and when
they see man too excited they keep 1t
between the sword and his head.
At last all Is over and one Is able to get
away. Ladies frequently go, not believ-
ing what is going to happen, ana faint
from horror. of the scene.
This time there was beautiful moon,
and returning from Satamobula, across
the bridge, with the Golden Horn on the
one side and the Bosphorus on the other,
perfectly quiet, 1t wassditficult to believe
that one had not just Weakened up from
had nightmare -John Crocker in Chicago