The instruments with which the foregoing observations have been made, are placed upon a table about 4 feet above the ground in the western verandah of the Honorable Company's Observatory; which is situated in longitude 5h. 21m, 9s. E. latitude 13d. 4m. 9s. N.; at about two miles from the sea and about 27 feet above the low water mark. T. G. TAYLOR, H. C. Astronomer. OF LITERATURE AND SCIENCE, No. 9.-October, 1835. I. Observations on the Origin and Ceremonies of the By MAHOMED TIPPOO, Persian Inter Mohurrum. preter of the Supreme Court.* Thinking that a few particulars respecting the Anniversary of Mohurrum in the Carnatic, improperly called the Mohurrum festival, with a short account of what led to the celebration of it, may not be wholly uninteresting, I have drawn up the following observations on the subject. The history of the successors of Mahomed, recorded by various writers both Oriental and European, comprises a detail of misfortunes that pursued his descendants, and terminated in the death of his grandson Imâm Hoosien, in the celebrated field of Kurbulâ situated in Arabia deserta, and the consequent transfer of his dominions to a foreign branch. Imâm Hoosien was one of the grandsons of Mahomed by his beloved daughter Fâtimâ, and his cousin Alee. It is to commemorate the massacre and sufferings of Imâm Hoosein and his unfortunate companions, (who are all considered as mar. tyrs) that the anniversary, which is the subject of this paper, is celebrated. We have much pleasure in giving insertion to this well written and instructive paper, which although it bears internal evidence of European revision, is highly creditable to the talents of Mahomed Tippoo, the able and intelligent Interpreter of the Supreme Court. The paper as might be expected savours not a little of sectarian prejudices.---ED. Mahomedan history, relates that, after the death of Mahomed the choice of his successor fell upon Aboo Bukr,notwithstanding the high pretensions of Alee founded on his conspicuous merit, and the closeness of his affinity, both by blood and marriage, with the Prophet; nor was it till after the successive reigns of Aboo Bukr, Omur, and Oosmân, that the Khilâfut (the supreme authority pontifical and civil) reverted to the line of Mahomed in the person of Alee-it was this order of succession that occasioned the existing schisms and dissentions among the Mahomedans ;-schisms which gave rise to two distinct, and, with respect to each other, intolerant classes, called the Sheeah (a) and Soonnee sects; (b) the former considering the three successors beforementioned, as usurpers to the prejudice of the rights of Alee, and carrying their veneration for him so far that they transgress all bounds of reason and decency; and the latter maintaining the superior title of those three Khaleejâs (caliphs,) both as princes and pontiffs.—It is therefore among the Sheeahs only that the misfortunes of Alee and his offspring are universally commemorated and with a degree of bigotry bordering upon fanaticism. The feeble administration of Oosmân which terminated in his assassination, had encouraged numerous insurrections, which his successor Alee was employed in quelling, when his attention and his arms were attracted by a more formidable adversary, Mâveeah, the gover (a) & Sheeah, an Arabic word,---it is used to denote a follower of the sect of Alee, a Sectary--vide Sale's Koran, Prelim. disc. sect. 8. (b) Soonnee, an Arabic word,-among other meanings it is to denote an orthodox Mahomedan who reveres equally the four successors of Mahomed--vide Sale's Koran, Prelim. disc. sect. 8. nor of Syria, who had a suspicion, either real or affected, that Alee was deeply implicated in the murder of the third of the caliphs, and who had in consequence assumed the title of the Commander of the faithful (caliph) in opposition to the lawful and unquestionable authority of Alee. Between these parties there was a long and obstinate contest, in which it is said Alee was engaged in seventy-two battles, and the cause in which he fought, obtained him the appellation of allwell Asudoollâhool ghâlib (the powerful lion of God); and contributed, equally with his illustrious descent, to the veneration in which he is held by his modern votaries. Their dispute indeed ceased with the murder of Alee; and the voluntary abdication of his eldest son, Hasun, elevated Mâveeah to the throne. His son and successor Yazeed, jealous of the superior title of Hasun who had retired to Medina, instructed the Governor of that place to put him to death; and he was accordingly carried off by poison through the treachery of his wife. The remaining son of Alee, Hoosien, encouraged to assert his title by information secretly conveyed to him, that a numerous body of Mussulmans at Cufâ were prepared to support his cause, and would join him on his approach, unadvisedly repaired with such followers as he could collect to that city. But this was a mere stratagem on the part of Yazeed for the destruction of his rival, who, after reaching the plain of Kurbula in Arabia deserta, was sorrounded and attacked by the troops of the usurper; but with the enthusiastic feelings of self devoted martyrs, Hoosien and his escort, consisting of his family and relations, amounting to seventy-two per. sons in number maintained an unequal combat with the enemy's superior force, until every individual (one of his sons excepted) perished by the sword. This event occurred on Friday the 10th of the month of Mohurrum in the year of Hijery 61 or the 9th of October, A. D. 680. Hoosien fell at the age of fifty seven years and four months. أبو عبد الله His familiar appellation was Aboo Abdoollâh, and he is occasionally entitled Such, consistently with the limits of a letter, are the preliminary observations I would make respecting this anniversary. For further particulars of this tragical event, I take the liberty to refer to the first volume of Major Price's Mahomedan History, published in London, in 1811. In that volume from page 391 to page 411, particulars of this occurrence are clearly and distinctly mentioned. Having thus given a short account of what led to the celebration of the anniversary of Mohurum, I shall next proceed to state some particulars of the anniversary itself. The anniversary of Mohurrum begins in the evening of the last day of the month preceding that of Mohurrum immediately after the appearance of the new moon; if she be observed by the circumstances of the weather, the anniversary commences on the evening of the 30th day from the appearance of the preceding new moon, or from the first day of the preceding month, the lunar months having been expressly adopted by the Mahomedans for no other purpose than that of religion. There are some ceremonies which are performed, not only by the Sheeahs but also by the generality of the Indian Soonnees, and there are other ceremonies which are exclusively performed by the Sheeahs. I shall begin with such ceremonies as are performed by both these sects as shortly as I can. When the anniversary begins, as has been before stat |