The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-06-27
TIE SWIFT SPECIFIC CO.. ATLANTA. CA.

| bOC oTGNsSuV wa NbAAUbhA ~
men troop by thousands to their ceme-
teries. Why on that day, and never on
another, l do not know. They go to the
marabouts of the saints to pray for the
blessing of fertility; but as each drags
five or six olive branches behind her, it
is difficult to understand the eagerness
OF their VOWS. Seem from a distance,
the long procession of figures, wrapped
in white from head to foot, looks like
train of sheeted spectres newly risen
from the grave. But as they come nearer
you hear light laughter and chattering
that is decidedly 'of the earth, earthly"
and bright eyes, very much alive with
Mother Ewes curiosity, peer from under
wooden haiks at the stranger.
Speaking of Arab ceremonials-you
may see some of them to-day, unchang-
ed since Ali Baba's time even in AL
giers, within sight of Protestant and
Catholic churches. The most fanatical
rites are performed by votaries of the
Sidi Mohanmedan bin Aissa CONTRA
ternity, and one of their fetes is worth
seeing Once-if one has strong nerves.
1t begins with the wild beating of drums
an tambours, until crowd is collect
ed. Then out of some dark doorway
an Assaoui, supposed to be inspired,
rushes with yell into the ring formed
| by spectators, where he executes a
frantic dance, swaying his body back
wards and forwards and comforting
himself with fearful violence. He is
presently joined by others, all yelling,
gesticulating and comforting until they
fall exhausted to the ground. The Mo-
haddam (head of the order collects
enough coin from the crowd to purchase
a reviving beverage, which he admins
tiers to the PROSTATE devotees; and soon
they resume their cheerful perform
ances-searing their bodies with red-hot
irons, forcing out their own eyes with
spikes, eating live scorpions and ser
penis, chewing broken glass, doing any
devilish deed their fanatical mania may
suggest. 1t is supposed that their So
called religious" exaltation renders
them insensible to pain: but what the
after effect of glass and scorpion diet
may be cannot say.
Other sacrifcial rites are celebrated
ON the sea shore every Wednesday
morning, which anybody may witness
who gets up early enough. The per-
formers are not of the ancient and
honorable Aissaoui,-but low-class ma
tives who desire to get rid of their vari-
Gus diseases. To this end, they slaught-
er a fowl, or lamb, and after certain
incarnation and burning of incense,
they smear themselves with it's blood
If the dying creature struggles in the
water, it is looked upon as good omen
and the faith-cure is almost complete.
This has nothing to do with true Mo-
hammedan worship, but persons Of diff
ferent races, Moors, Arabs and Jews
included, share the superstition. 1t is
very ancient ceremony, and as early as
1903 it was infinitely described in book
by Pere Dan, the French author-priest.
The negroes in Algiers have also their
peculiar fetes and sacrifices, some of
which are as disgusting as they are
curious. Chief among them is the feast
of Mouled en-Nibbi, in honor of the
Prophets birthday, which occurs on the
18th day of the month Rabia el-owel.
Bou-Zarea is delightfully."- situated on
a mountain of the same name, more
than thousand feet above the sea.
There are two villages-the European
and the native-nearly mile apart.
Midway between rises a vast building,
for many years Turkish lunatic asy
lum, but now occupied by the French
Ecole Normal. Nowadays the native
village is mostly devoted to Koubbas,
(shrines of the saints each set in an en-
closure of dwarf palms and prickly-
pear From this point, which the
traveller should make his base of opera
lions for at least week, several excur-
sions of great interest may be made.
One of them leads via the faubourg
Bab-el-Oued to the celebrated French
Observatory, which is credit to it's
builders and said to be more favorably>
situated than any other in the world,
with but two exceptions. Visitors are
always cordially welcomed by the d.
rector. Near it is another of Algiers'
worthy charities = the Hospice des
Vieillards, in which several hundred
old men and women find an asylum.
The institution is kept by the Petites
Soeurs DIES Pauvres little Sisters of
the Poor, and is entirely supported by
| voluntary contributions.