SEIN, A city of Asiatic Tur key, in the Vilayet of Bagdad, about 55 miles southwest of the city of Bagdad. not far from the Euphrates, with which it is connected by the ancient Ilamadiyyah Grand Canal, which drains a marshy region. Ilosein, son of the Caliph Ali, while attempting to defend his claim to the caliphate, was defeated and killed there by the hnrniads; he was buried in the city. which then became for the Shiahs second in holiness only to Mecca. Most of this sect being Persians, Ker bela is almost entirely Persian in character. The fanaticism of the inhabitants shows itself espe cially in the violence with which a sort of pas sion play is acted on the anniversary of Ilosein's death. (See 111SAN AND 110:SEIN.) The city has been the scene of many revolts, after the last of which, in 1843, suppressed with much bloodshed. the right of sanctuary which had been extended to criminals at Kerbela was an nulled. There are five mosques. The principal one, that containing the tomb of Hosein, is ven erated both by Shiahs and Sunnis; its domes and minarets are plated with gold. The second mosque is that of the Imam Abbas. Non-Mo hammedans are not allowed to enter either of them. The number of pilgrims visiting the city annually is enormous—aceording to some estimates 200.000. They often bring the corpses
of relatives for burial in sacred ground. It is claimed that the plague which has often de vastated the land was in many eases due to this fact. Kerbela is also a starting-point for the Meecan pilgrimage 1-..e 111%.4.1), and the market place for the whole of Northeast Arabia. Trade is brisk. and the Turkish Government derives a large revenue from the place. The treasuries of the mosques have during the centuries been enriched by countless precious gifts; the treas urers, who receive no salary. are also made wealthy by donations from pilgrims. The chief industries are the manufacture of bricks of holy earth. such as are used by the Shiahs in daily prayers, and the making of shrouds. on which are stamped verses from tlu. Koran. Dates and cereal. are the ehief food exports. A ruined wall, 24 feet high. surrounds the old city. the streets of with one exception, are narrow and dirty. But new quarters have recently de veloped around the old. with broad, regular, and lamp-lighted streets. and sidewalks. The popu lation is about 65.000, of which 54.000 are Shiahs.