3-003-953 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The "Doseh", an annual religious ceremony at Cairo, 1861. 'This most remarkable of the many peculiar ceremonies in connection with the Moslem religion takes place on the last day of the Festival of the Birthday of the Prophet. The fete is held in...the gardens of the Esbekieh...the Sheik [arrives]...on horseback, escorted by...grenadiers from the Viceregal Guard and a crowd of officious ecclesiastics...the devotees...apparently lost to everything but paradise and eternity...urged by the dervishes, throw themselves flat upon the ground and are then carefully arranged...(care being taken to have the heads all one way), and continue their cry of "Allah!" which is taken up by the spectators, who become very much excited. The Sheik's horse is...highly trained, and unshod, but always hesitates to place its foot on the first body...each man is trodden upon twice. It is rarely, if ever, that the horse misses his footing - placing one foot on the shoulder of one man and one hind foot upon the hip of another. Immediately the Sheik has passed over, the men leap up, shouting the usual "Allahhu!" The excitement at this particular moment is intense, and the cawasses (police) are extremely lively and energetic in keeping the mob back'. From "Illustrated London News", 1861.