Historical Reference

The Merv Oasis: Travels and Adventures East of the Caspian During the Years 1879-80-81,
Including Five Months' Residence Among the Tekkes of Merv
By Edmund O'Donovan
Published by G. P. Putnam's sons, 1883 Volume II

Page 40

40 MOHARREM CELEBRATIONS.
CHAPTER XXXII.
A MUSSULMAN PASSION PLAT.
Religious acting — Khan's invitation — Ceremonious reception — Public stage — Spectators — Scenery — Ilramatis personte — Violations of dramatic canons — How they act in Central Asia — Expressions of grief — The Khan's emotion — A conjugal tribute — Marital etiquette — The villain of the piece — His allies — A stage combat — Histrionic artifice — Smoking him out — A tragic scene — Feminine grieving — An execution — Realistic acting — A horrid entertainment — A juvenile dance — Costumes — Ceremonies — Calisthenics — Central Asian can-can — Retribution — An excited Turkmen — A stage combat — A useful pigtail — The bridge of Al-Sirat — Public penance — Iron scourges — A reprieve — Refreshments — Closing scenes — The Prankish ambassadors — An impromptu lion — Tokens of grief — A public appeal — Recognition — A graduated blessing — ‘Ya Ali ‘— Police discipline — An appeal.

WITH the month of Moharrem came the Mussulman services usually celebrated during that period; and every day a body of professional artists gave a public representation of the religious drama founded on the massacre of Imam Hussein, or, rather, of one scene of the play, the entirety of which extends over several days, every incident being acted in the fullest possible detail. In large cities it is allowed to unbelievers to look on, diplomatic representatives and other strangers of importance being often specially invited; but out here, on the extreme edge even of semi-civilization, the presence of a ‘kaffir‘at one of these Mussulman religious dramatic performances would, as a rule, be as unacceptable to the unadulterated Islamism of the place as in a mosque itself. However, by special favor, I received an invitation from the Khan to be present, as some extra acting was

Chapter 30 - Chapter 31 - Chapter 32 - Chapter 32 - Chapter 33 - Chapter 34 - Chapter 35 - Chapter 36 - Chapter 37 - Chapter 38 - Chapter 39 - Chapter 40

Some other works:

• Balfour on the Turkmen 1883
• Basin of the Helmand. By Markham
• Care and feeding of the Akhal Teke/Tekke Horses by Boulger
• On Journeys Between Herat, and Khiva.By Goldsmid
• Origin of the Turkmen, with an Account of the Minor Tribes by Marvin
• Road to Merv. By Rawlinson
• The Turkmen by Boulger

Last count I have over 29,000 web pages in my notes. My main sites are www.SpongoBongo.com and www.PersianCarpetGuide.com