Irvine Express and North Ayrshire Post. — 1886-11-05 (Irvine, Strathclyde, Scotland)

LITERARY GLEANINGS. THE 310HURRUM AT CONSTANTIN 4 )PLE. (G/91".)  • I WENT yesterday to see one of the most ghastly ceremonials it has ever been my lot to witness. If anyone had described it to me. I should have taken the liberty of doubting his word to a pretty considerable extent. I could not have believed that so barbarous a custom would have been tolerated in this nineteenth century of ours. What I saw was the Persian festival, which is held once a year, in two or three places in the world, to celebrate the anniversary of the murder of Hassan and Husseinn, the sons of All. My friend and I, with two bawds in attendance, went over about half-past six in the evening to a square in Stamboul, and arrived just in time for the commencement of the orgies. They began  with a procession of children': dressed in bfack gowns, singing hymns in praise of Hassan and Husseinn to the sound of weird music. The square was guarded all round by Turkish soldiers. who kept a clear space in the centre ; the crowd stood behind, and the windows of the square were filled with spectators. The place was all draped in black, thousands of lanterns were hung about, and burning braziers were stationed at intervals of a few yards. In about ten minutes after our arrival a fearful din of tom-toms arose, and a number of men entered the square, those in the foremost ranks carrying braziers, while those in the centre supported a large can, Ty, formed of Persian flags and ensigns. Two white horses were next led in. These carried howdahs with a child tied on each, to represent the two brothers. Then came other horses, decked out with embroidery stained with blood, and dead bodies lying across their backs. A procession of priests and people then entered, chanting songs of mourning, and these were followed by men, , with their bodies bare to their waists, beating themselves with great chains, which they swung over their heads, first on their backs and then on their chests, all sobbing and singing the while, the clang of the chains as they all swung together against the flesh being something horrible to hear. Then came the awful part of the whole thing, which made one shudder, and turns my blood cold as I write it. About a hundred men entered the square with their heads shaved, and dressed entirely in white; these formed a huge circle arm in arm, all with their faces to the centre of the ring, those on one side shouting 'Hassan," those on the other •` Husseinn." They gradually worked themselves up into a screaming frenzy, and then, brandishing the huge sabres they carried, they commenced hacking at their bodies and heads till the blood poured down them, and pieces of flesh came oil the poor wretches, who, as they became more excited, inflicted ghastly scalp wounds on each other. I never saw such an awful sight, and I never wish to again. They went twice round the square, shouting, screaming, and brandishing their sabres, after which such of them as were still able to walk retired from the scene, and the men with chains took their places, with their chests and backs black and bleeding. These marched twice round the square, followed by children singing and chanting. A few prayers were now offered up by the priests, inure shouts of " Hassan " and " Husseinn," and then there was a pause, and the people looked as if they were about to disperse. Sickened and horrified by the scene we had witnessed, my friend and I quitted our window seat, and began a rapid walk to our hotel; but suddenly there were loud shouts from the people, and we saw the entire throng returning. We were the unwilling spectators of a renewal of this fearful carnage, which was only terminated by the death of many of the actors in it, while those who yet lived sank exhausted to the ground, their features in many instances 'indistinguishable, their white dresses soaked with blood, and yet even in their dying agonies sustained by a mysterious fanaticism which teaches them that through these selfinflicted tortures they go straight into heaven. This account may seem to you exaggerated, but I can assure you it is impossible to convey to you in writing the ghastly realities of the scene I have just described.