Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-30
Religious Fanatics Mutilate Them.
selves to Expiate Historic
Murder.
CHASTITY CEREMONY DESCRIBED
Hundreds Hack and Tear Their Flesh
With Steel ScOurges Until Blood
Drcuches Their Garments.
Special Correspondence.

- pNSIANTlNOPLE, April 16.--
Awaiting myself Of the influence
of Turkish friend, which pro-
cured for me a privilege seldom
accorded those who are not followers
Of the prophet have Just Witnessed
what is probably the most grewsome
and bloody exhibitions Of sefinfIcted
punishment and torture, on a whole-
sale scale that can be seen anywhere
within the confines OF civilization.
III you think that your nerves can
stand 1t" sad.my friend. to me, II
will show you something that guar
antee you win remember as long as
you live but ! warn YOU that 1t may
cost you one or two bad dreams"
So, by appointment a few days later
1t charced 70 be Palm Sunday--we
met In STEAMBOAT, and wendell our way
10 the Nallede Khan or Mothers house,
where live most of the elect OF the Per-
sian residents Of the capital. The
only entrance was through vaulted
passage, which was guarded by a
strong detachment Of Turkish troops;
but my companion produced docu-
ntent which their leader carefully scru-
tinted, and az word from him the
soldiers made way for u.s.
DRAPED IN BLACK.
We found ourselves In a square. each
side Of which was about 200 Yards long.
surrounded by houses OF two stories In
height, with wooden balconies project
ing In front Of some Of the windows.
Walls and windows We're draped In
black In the center OF the square was
mosque decked In the same sombre
fashion. Men Of melancholy yisage.
phle-taced clad In black robes, moved
silently hlther and thither. Their sal
low coinpleXlons, dellcately chiseled
and intellectual features indicated that
they were Perslars most OF them, but
among them were some Turkish Mo-
hainmedans, men Of more robust and
physically rigorous type, and white
bearded priests.
Almost Immediately black CARRIED
Individual, after inspecting something
like u ticket which my friend showed
him, grayely conducted us to an upper
room In one of the houses and when
we had squalted on the floor Turkish
fashion, before the iron-barred win
dow and pushed aside the black dram
cry sufficiently to let us see all that
went ON my Turkish companion cx-
planned what II all meant.
TELLS WHY.
Know, unbeliever." he said that
this IL the Mouharrem OF the Persians.
the season when Persian Mohamme-
dams mourn the death OF All and his
two sons. Hasson and lIussein, true
successors OF the prophet Misled and
deceived by the deyll they slew them
l,S2O years ago. and today, the ami
Ntrsary of their assassination, having
prepared themselves for Il by "a hours
OF fasting and lamentation, prayer and
weeping, they expiate the terrible crimo
OF their ancestors by undergoing self
Inflicted punishment and torture"
AZ this moment stir among the
silent throng announced the arrival of
the Persian ambassador and his suite,
who were conducted TO a kiosk at one
side OF the mosque. Then the square
was cleared and the priests gathered
Oh the steps Of the mosque,
FUNERAL DIRGE.
The dirge-like wall OF funeral music
reaches US and relieves the tension of
silence. Black robed men appear
marching with slow and solemn steps
bearing on STATS, surmounted by silver
hands, pointing heavenwards, banners
OF purple, green and black silk, with
inscriptions upon them OF plous import,
one Of the banners is white, Then
follows a band. II consists only Of q
few tlagelots drums and cymbals and
lts music Is restricted to six bars, re-
peated again and again. with monoton-
Gus inslstency, but despite It's lack NJ
melody Us effect Is as mournful as that
OF The Dead March"
Following the band, in double rank.
but with Wide intervals between. come
80 men. dressed IN black save for the
left breast, which Ia bare AT the end
Of each bar Of music they strike their
left breasts with their right hands.
mournfully waiting the while "Has.
san. Eius-seIn! A.ll,' Their form OF
penltental atonement. though impres.
sive is comparatively easy one But
behind them follow still larger mum.
Der OF men, walking two and two. bare
shouldered, but for the rest clad in the
all'pervading black, Each, right hand
Yields d short stan. 10 which punches
Of steel chains are attached. As they
march, with the pendulum-like regular
ity OF some gymnastic exercise, they
smile themselves over each shoulder
alternately keeping time TO the music.
and tutoring In chorus the mournful re-
lrain, "llas-sanl Hus.selnl All" each
name being punctuated by cruel blow.
BLOOD IN STREAMS.
Round and round the square they
march with what seems exasperatlng
slowness to one who feels for Inc pain
they are enduring, voluntary though II
liz. Black welts soon give place to rcd
streaks and then the blood flows freely.
bu, for an hour they keep 1t up show
Ing no abatement IN the feryor Of their
selt'InllIcted penance, with each rcpctl.
ton Of the sacred name shifting their
raw flesh and allowing no sign Of suf-
ferlng TO show itself on their set ana
stocial faces
II is with much relief one secs them
retire at last, leaving the square oecu.
pied by elderly men, black garbed. who
rcnd the air with their loud amenta-
tlons, the tears tricklIng down their
checks attesting the sincerity Of their
g'lef nut Il cannot be classed as ply
steal suffering and does not try onss