318 Origin and Ceremanw.r af the JJohuninn. [Oct- 



in the year of Hijery 61 or the Olh of Octoher, A. D. 

 680. Hoosien fell at the age of nfty seven years and 



four months. His familiar appellation was aIU 



Ahoo Abdoollah, and he is occasionally entitled 

 Syedoosh-Shohda, the prince of martyrs. 



Such, consistently with the limits of a letter, are the 

 preliminary observations I would make respecting this 

 anniversary. For further particulars of this tragical event, 

 I take the liberty to refer to the first volume of Major 

 Price's Mahomedan History, published in London, in 

 1811. — In that volume from page 391 to page 41 1, parti- 

 culars of this occurrence are clearly and distinctly men- 

 tioned. 



Having thus given a short account of what led to the 

 celebration of the anniversary of M')huram, I shall next 

 proceed to state some particulars of the anniversary 

 itself. 



The anniversary of Mohurrum begins in the evening' of 

 the last day of the month preceding that of Mohurrum 

 immediately after the appearance of the new moon ; if 

 she be observed by the circumstances of the weather, the 

 anniversary commences on the evening of the 30th day 

 from the appearance of the preceding new moon, or from 

 the first day of the preceding month, the lunar months 

 Jbaving been expressly adopted by the Mahomedans for 

 no other purpose than that of religion. 



There are some ceremonies which are performed^ 

 not only by the Sheeahs but also by the generality of 

 the Indian Soonnees, and there are other ceremonie_s 

 which are exclusively performed by the Sheeahs. 



I shall begin with such ceremonies as are performed 

 by both these sects as shortly as I can. 



When the anniversary begins, as has been before stat- 



