IV 



My Log 409 



night. I am told that they do verily eat these 

 scorpions, crunching them up alive like shrimps, but 

 possibly relieving them of the last joint of their 

 tails by a secret pinch. 



Of course this is for the most part charlatanism, 

 but I think that with it is mixed up a vast deal of 

 real and possibly dangerous excitement. I am 

 certain that most of the performers worked them- 

 selves into a state but little removed from mania, 

 and, if I may believe what I am told, that many of 

 them did it from a religious feeling. Much of this 

 excitement is, I suspect, caused by burning stimulating 

 narcotics in the incense ; most probably some form of 

 Indian hemp, bhang or haschish. The tremendous 

 engorgement of the face and neck, and the state of the 

 eyes, could hardly have been assumed at a moment's 

 notice by a mere effort of the will. It would, I 

 think, be far better without the tricks than with 

 them ; but there are those who think the liquefaction 

 of the blood of St. Januarius an edifying addition to 

 the sacrifice of the Mass. The French do not like 

 it at all, and the men are not allowed to go through 

 the performance without the express permission of 

 the Prefect of Police. If these fellows were to 

 descend into the street and do their lunacies before 

 an impressionable mob of Moors, I think there 

 would very probably be a row ; the thing is 

 catching, and I myself had a horrible inclination to 

 cast my ' tubular turban ' into the arena and go 

 raving mad with the rest. The sect is a distinct 



