The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-06-27
PER las PASSION PLAY
a commemorative Ceremony That
Lasts For Ten DAVIS

Lasts For Ten Days.
CONSTANTINOPLE Nav 1S1
night, the 10th of the Arab month Non
barren, took place the annual caranIo,',,
IN commemoration of the deaths of Has.
san and Hussen, whom the Persi,ns
Venerate as the real successors of the
Peophel Mohammed, but who are not ac
cepted by the Turks. In this wav the
-hohanlmedans are divided into two great
Scots ana nate each other accordingly.
When Mohammed died he named as his
successor, according TO the Turks Ab,I-
pekf, who was succeeded by Omar and
othmah, and eventually Yezid, who con-
sidered himself caliph. But the Persians
contended that Mohammed should have
been succeeded by his son-in-Iaw Ali
ana that the caliphate should descend in
Il dlfect line. In consequence Hassan
and Hussein We're invited to go to Persia
10 take up the caliphate. Hassan, how
ever, was poisoned at MEDINA. and Hi,s-
sem and his family were pursued by Yez-
10 ana ms army, surrounded al last on
the plains near Ragdad, cut off from wa
ter and eventually all were allied.
In Persia tie cornmemoration is most
elaborate and lasts the first ten DAYS If
the month. Every incident leading IN 10
the murder is depicted. Here in Constan-
tinople only the ceremonies OF the last
day are observed. The Turks naturally
do their best to prevent the celebration,
out with no success, and every year the
ceremony takes place. 1T is, without ex-
ception, the most barbarous and horrible
sight that can be seen, and ] am afraid
few people Will believe that the scenes /
an 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 Waldo khan, Stamboul. Two
other khans are also utilized but the Va
Tide khan is the most convenient
The Nalide khan is one of the cid carav-
ansaries. On entering through a great
archway and gate one finds oneself in a
large square, with shops on all sides. The
building was originally night refuge for
caravans. There being no entrance hut
the one gateway. the walls all around be-
ing very high and solid, a caravan would
be perfectly safe from the attacks which
were very common in those days The
camels and other beasts of burden re-
manned and unloaded in the center, and
the rooms around We're occupied by mer-
chants and travellers. The rooms have
now been converted into shops and are
occupied entirely by Persian merchants.
on the 10th of MouhaTrem the fronts OF
the shops are taken out and the interiors
arranged much like boxes at theaters, ex-
cept that they are hung with black and
decorated with cut-glass chandeliers. The
likeness to d theater is heightened by the
boxes being some feet above the level of
the ground. In front is space roped off,
where spectators who are not favored
with an invitation to the boxes lind places.
Outside the ropes is row of soldiers
the invariable accompaniment of all re-
ligious ceremonies in Turkey.
About an hour after sunset the cere-
mony begins. Braziers of wood are light
ed and kept burning by a constant sup
ply of petroleum being poured on them.
In the distance a most doleful dirge is
heard, announcing the approach of the
professions. AT this sound all lie Per-
Nians begin to groan ana weep, and the
ssa is filled with the sound of lamenta-
ton h.nd the sicKly smell of the burning
petrole~p.
Preserve The procession comes into
view, headSss the musicians, who are
provided with flutes, which produce the
most melancholy notes it is possible to
imagine. Then come bearers of banners,
priests and horses with crossed swords
on their backs, and then two lines of men
in white smocks, each holding the others
eirdle with the left hand and brandishing
a naked sword in his righ,. A precentor
or priest is continually eXhorting them,
telling them of the sufferings of Hassan
and Hussein Each of his sayings is an
by the white ngures and groans and sobs
from the spectators. After they have been
round the square three times they so to
visit the other khans
Other professions follow, some compos-
ed 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 chill
dren and women: others again beating
themselves with chains, and one Of chill
dren singing. At last they all pass and
silence intervenes for few minutes,
when suddenly the original men in white
appear, but row they are frightfully eX-
cited and are slashing at their fore
heads withStheir swords. Their white
dresses are covered with blood. The fit
full light of the braziers adds TO the hor-
ror of the scene, which appears to be a
confusion of naked swords and 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 other professions come on
again; this time the horses and children
are smeared with blood. So it goes on
till all the gangs have had their turn.
/ Naturally, toward the end it gets worse
as they are more excited. If left TO
/ themselves they would do themselves
some great injury. but behind them men
! are watching, with stages of wood, and
when they see a man too excited they
keen it between the sword and his head.
At last all is over and one is able to get
away. Ladies frequently go, not bel!ev-
/ ing what is going to happen, and faint
from the horror Of the scene.
/ This time there was beautiful moon,
and, returning from STEAMBOAT, across
/ the bridge with the Golden Horn on the
+ one side and the Bosporus on the other,
perfectly quiet, it was difficult to believe
: that one had not just Weakened UP from
I a bad nightmare.