1B3^] Origin mul Ceremonies of the MGhurmm. 329 



and iciixiimstanoes of the changefnl scene of buman life. 



But I humbly conceive the scenes and actions durini;^ 

 ^e Mohurrum anniversary, as I have mentioned before, 

 are nat to be found in any of the first three authorities 

 ^boye alluded to, much less in the last one ■which is 

 founded on reason ; for, I see no reason in those spec.- 

 ta_Gles^ to which the preceding remarks refer. I say, I 

 see no reason in them, because assimilation of madness 

 to which these fanatics have recourse, produces in them ^ 

 for the time, a real phrenzy and thereby altogether de- 

 jsrives them of their reason. Hence no reason can be 

 expected from those who are not in their right senses^ 

 In short the Soonnee law always rejects the exhibition 

 jpf the Alums and pageants and their processions as 

 idolatrous ; and the above masquerade as a completely 

 idle and intolerable farce. 



- 3yith. jespect to the Mahornedan law as it obtains' 

 amongst the Sheeah sect on the same subject, I think 

 X may safely say, that nothing but the exhibition of the 

 Alums, saying prayers, &c. are allowed by it. 



So much, for the ceremonies performed by both these 

 sects with a few exceptions. x\s to the ce^''emomes ob- 

 served by the sect of the Sheeahs exclusively, I shall 

 also proceed to state the facts as shortly as I cati. 



It may be/ collected from the foregoing pages that 

 Imam Hoosien and his relations, being killed on th.^;; 

 loth day of the month of MohurrUn^, the first ten days: 

 of that month have, through the enthusiasm of the sec- 

 taries of Alee, been universally devoted to plaints and 

 tamentations for the martyrdom of his son and others. 



Rooms are well furnished and ornamented for the 

 purpose of observing the necessary ceremonies in thein^^ 

 7'hese rooms are called ^Ij*-"^ Fazeeah Khane (oT^ 



houses where the mournful histories of the Imams ard; 

 recited). Persons well a:?cu&tomed ta public speaking/ 



