New-York tribune., 1906-08-19

feared an increase OF crime after the Shahs as
sassination.
The first victims selected by the Governor for
this drastic object lesson were five men-nOt
notorious criminals, but simply men who had
failed to pay their taxes. Chained neck TO neck
they were led to the Rowan gate, where the nee
essary wells, followed pillars over holes two
feet deep, were erected. Into these wells the
prisoners were thrust, some head down. others
with heads sticking out at the top Plaster of
paris then emptied in, and after each
basketful water poured Slowly but
surely the catch" swelled and became solid.
until the circulation of the blood in the mans
body was checked and the poor wretch was tight
ly encased in a solid tomb. A Persian meets the
ordinary forms of death bravely and stoicaIly.
but death by 'gatch" is more than any mortal
being can endure. An eyewitness describes
their shrieks and yells as blood curdling, while
the agony stamped on their features was such
as never could be described or forgotten.
The national sentiment rekindled by the Shahs
travels in Europe and the introduction of a few
Western innovations accounts for the frequent
fanatical uprisings of the Mahometans against
the Christians. 1t was this fanaticism that found
its exponent in the person of MOllah Reza, who
assassinated the former Shah Of Persia. Nasr-
ed-Din in May, 1896 In the hope Of stemming
-AN
warning to other malcontents. his punishment
was made as severe as possible.
After horrible and unusual tortures, extending
over three months from the commission Of the
crime. he was executed on the Mackh Meidan
the great square in Teheran where the annual
military manRuvres take place Here a gall
lows was erected. the object of the authorities
being to hang the victim high enough in the air
to be clearly seen by the throngs of spectators
who turned out en- masse to witness this spec
tacle. For. hours he hung there an awful moral
to point the tale of official Justice
While such a penalty might seem overrigorous
in more civilized country. it is quite in keep
ing with Persian methods and has not been suf-
fcient to deter other attempts upon the life of
the present sovereign.
Beside the punishments lavishly prescribed by
the authorities for misdeeds, the Persians hold
the monopoly for a most grewsOme and spectac-
ular form of self-punishment. This is the cele-
brated sanguinary memorial rite known as the
Mouharrem, held in annual commemoration of
the deaths of ALI and his two sons, Hassan and
Hussein, true successors to the Prophet Misled
and deceived by the devil, according to Persian
belief, these men slew themselves some 1900
years ago.
On the anniversary of their death, the 10th
of Mouharrem, whatever month of the English
twelve Il may be 0Or owing to the vagaries of
Turkish chronology the first lunar month Of the
Mahometan year comes each year eleven days
earlier than in the preceding). the Persians. hav-
ing duly made ready by twenty -four hours fast
ing, prayer and lamentations both loud and
Deep expiate the crimes of their ancestors by
self-inhicted punishments and tortures While
every visitor In Persia or Constantnople shud-
ders over the description of this revel of blood
as given by eyewitnesses, there is a dreadful
fascination that impels every one to see it for
himself. The ceremony takes place at night
the line of march being illumined by great bon
fires and braziers containing pinewOOd saturated
with kerosene, that blazes ftfully in the wind
HeraIded by the strident wall and clash of clar-
inets and cymbals, the cOrtege representing the
funerals of Hassan and Hussein approaches
Suddenly bursts of grief rend the waiting thrOng
ntl,ru-