180 
CEREMONIES BEFORE THE KING. 
were to be seen stepping tenderly over the stones, with sticks in their 
hands doing the duties of menials, now keeping back a crowd, then 
dealing out blows with their sticks, and settling the order of the pro¬ 
cessions. 
Part of the square was partitioned off by an enclosure, which was 
to represent the town of Kerbelah, near which Hossein was put to 
death ; and close to this were two small tents, which were to represent 
his encampment in the desert with his family. A wooden platform 
covered with carpets, upon which the actors were to perform, com¬ 
pleted all the scenery used on the occasion. 
A short time after we had reached our tent, the King appeared ; and 
although we could not see him, yet we were soon apprised of his 
presence by all the people standing up, and by the bowing of his 
officers. The procession then commenced as follows: — 
First came a stout man, naked from the waist upwards, balancing 
in his girdle a long thick pole, surmounted by an ornament made of 
tin, curiously wrought with devices from the Koran, in height alto¬ 
gether about thirty feet. 
Then another, naked like the former, balanced an ornamented pole 
in his girdle still more ponderous, though not so high, upon which a 
young dervish, resting his feet upon the bearer’s girdle had placed 
himself, chaunting verses with all his might in praise of the King. 
After him a person of more strength, and more nakedness, a water 
carrier, walked forwards, bearing an immense leather sack filled with 
water slung over his back, on which by way of bravado four boys were 
piled one over the other. This personage, we were told, was em¬ 
blematical of the great thirst which Hossein suffered in the desert. 
A litter in the shape of a sarcophagus, which was called the Caber 
Peighember^i or the tomb of the prophet, succeeded, borne on the 
shoulders of eight men. On its front was a large oval ornament en¬ 
tirely covered with precious stones, and just above it, a great diamond 
star. On a small projection were two tapers placed on candlesticks 
enriched with jewels. The top and sides were covered with Cash- 
merian shawls, aud on the summit rested a turban, intended to 
