TEHERAN. 
195 
Chanting. When the Mollah had finished, a high and cumbrous pole 
was brought into the scene. It was ornamented with different coloured 
Silks and feathers, and on the summit were fixed two curious weapons 
made of tin, and intended to represent the swords of Ali. This heavy 
machine was handled by a man who, having made his obeisance to it 
(by first bowing his head, then kissing it) took it up with both his 
hands, and then amidst increasing applauses balanced it on his girdle, 
on his breast, and on his teeth. Next, on a small temporary stage, ap¬ 
peared several figures, who acted that part of the tragedy of the history 
of the Imaum appointed for the day. It consisted of the death of 
the two children of his sister Fat me, who, at the close of the 
performance were killed by Ameer, one of the officers of Yezid. The 
actors each held in their hands their speeches written on paper, which 
they read with great action and vociferation, and excited much interest 
in their audience, so that many sobbed and wept aloud; and when the 
ceremonial required the beating of breasts, many performed that part 
with a species of ferocious zeal, which seemed to be jealous of louder 
intonations from any breast than their own. In a part of the scene 
were then introduced water-carriers, who were emblematical of the 
thirst of the Imaum at his dying moments. They bore on their backs 
bullocks* skins filled with water, no inconsiderable weight; but in ad¬ 
dition, they each received five well-grown boys, and under the united 
burthen walked round a circle ten feet in diameter, three times con- 
secutively. 
On the following night the Envoy and I visited the Ameen-ed-Doulah 
Hajee Mohamed Hossein Khan. At his house, Mirza Shef- 
feea, Hajee Mohamed Hussein Khan Mervee, Fath Ali 
Khan the poet, and other great men were assembled. The comme¬ 
moration of the death of Hossein was performing in his court-yard; 
and when the Mollah begun to read that part of the ceremonial 
appointed for the day, the windows of the room, in which we 
were seated, were thrown open, and we all changed our positions, and 
sat with our faces towards the Mollah. His preaching lasted about an 
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