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Show SL'XSITES AMCSHEITES. TIIE TttO CIREAT UEI.IUIOL'S DIVISIONS DIVI-SIONS OK TIIE 1-KOI'X.E OP ISLAM. There are among the Moslems two great divisions, the Sunnltes and the Sheites. The Turks are all Sunnlte. Uie Persians all Sheites. They differ lu that the latter regard All, tho nephew aud son-in-law- of Mohammed, wiUi greater love than they do Mohammed himself. AH married FaUma, Mohammed's daughter, and by her had two sons. Hassan and Hussein. It Is said that Mohammed predicted their death; and In one day AH and his two sons and a large number of friends and adherents were massacred. The Sheites declare that Mohammed Mo-hammed encompassed their death, and to Uiis day Uie two sects hale each other even more than they do Uio ChrisUans. The anniversary of this fatal day is celebrated religiously every year among the Sheites. They gather in groups around a certain man, who, sealed in their mliM on some elevated ele-vated spot, begins tho recital in a monotone ol the tragedy. Gradually he warms up, he becomes excited, he throws up his hands, he even sobs with anguish ns he proceeds, and graphically de-scribes the mis-fortunes mis-fortunes or the ill-fated AH and his two sons. And tho audience, witli downcast eyes, reverently reverent-ly shaded with Uielr hands, follow with all absorbing InteTest his words. Presently they begin do soli, and finally to cry aloud with auguMi, and Leat their heads and breasts and tear Uieir hair. The reciter sways his audience audi-ence with thronging words of passion, pas-sion, with soft whispers or entreaty, with broken ejaculations of agony. Then suddenly his mood changes. What has passed has been a confession con-fession or their sin and the confession confes-sion of Uie justice of any punishment punish-ment that might fall on Uiem. For the Sheites were originally Sunnltes and approved of the death or AH, and it was only later that they lie-came lie-came Sheites and seceded from the SunniteS. aud bv till, n-mmnnv they lament over and eapiate Uie sins ot their forefitiicis. And now succeeds earnest prajer with upraised up-raised hands to God to receive All and bis sous into favor and to pardon par-don Uiem in His merry. Then, when this Is finished, nargilehs or hubble-bubbles are handed round, and the whole company enjoy a quiet smoke to calm their excited feeling". In some places knives are made use of and fearful wounds self-inflicted, aud In some cases death has resulted. Last year (1SS5) the anniversary was on September 10. But with Uie pilgrims we had this ceremony e-onUnually, night and day, until It became a nuisance, and orders were given that after eight p.m. no more .noise should be made. Vet, strange to say. while accusing him or this murder and condemning his action, Uie Sheites do not deny that Mohammed Is the true and only prophet of God. With Uie Sunnltes AH and his sons are of no account thrnl.iU Slagaanc. |