The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-07-19

tho pondsrous old priest, aud kept the dagger
from belng foFeed through TO the floor, This
was denominated miraculous circumstance.
Next five boys, from twelve down % not far
lroih siK yeap ~ age came up 20 tins mmr'
priest, who took a sharp steal rod, the siEe OF
the largest sail needle, having heavy fiat
handle ia the hbrm Of croEier, aud thrust IL
through both cheeks Of each boy--the han.
dle on one side, and the proiruding point on
the other, giving all Of ten inches Ia length
20 the instrument Being between the jaws,
the teeth could not be closed. The youngest
dihohed a triae, bat the others were poFieoi-
ly firm. They then took their places. unable
10 close their mouihs, while the blos,d trick
led down 10 the chin Thor distorted coun-
tenances were extremely painful 10 eonten-
plate. A. thil stage of the eKhibiiioa, mira
elea were 20 bo wrought for the recovery OF
Ail.k- perzanA.-Q Qne ailer another Laid nAi on
tlsslF haakar and tho old priest ltepprd on
their bodies and bore his whole weight on
che chest Five were PROSTATE at once, over
whom he walked giving each the pressure
Of hia holy feet One female ehs introduced
veiled, who was placed on her tace, An IN
fant, too, was placed under the torture Of bis
pontl6chl tread When the steel sulettous
we're Withdrawn from the checks Of the boys,
! examined the wounds Of ono OF them, aud
the little deceived chap declared that Il did
not hurt him, aud the gaping crowd Of undig.
nibed Musselmon yiowod IL As a most marvel
lous matter that they were not injured, paeb.
ed or maimod-A convincing proof to them
OF the divine nature Of the act. Government
have, 10 is honor, forbidden many of tie
cruel rites heretofore praniiaed hy this sect,
as being too AbominAble, both in the act and
tendency. Tho feats | witnessed are only
occasional An American missionary, who
has resided here many years, told me he had
never yet witnessed tho scenes here detail
ed
On following day sAw the whirling
dcrvshes perform at Para. The mosque was
an octaRon, with a gallery for conccaling f..
n'S'e-, yet giving them chance 10 look on
all about and below them. An orchestra
contained poor flute player, drum, and
something producing noise, but not likely
to be mistaken for harmony. The area orthc
mosque being cleared, the elect brethren,
wearing high conical felt caps, dressed in
short cloth jackets, heavy full skirts and bare
footed, formed a circle Alternate prayers,
chants, huns, and bowingr, prepared the der
wishes for their gymnastie exercises, which
we're commenced with certain terrible OK
plosion Of discoraant sounds from all the in
strumcnts at once. Paying their obcisAncc
10 the priest, who was in the green habit,
riuVt'i1p o',A s',Gt s,ceYaLiu S.i,l, ,l.s v,s,l
on, the twcnty-one began to turn round slow
y on an axis, while they gradually progress-
ed onwardly round the room, keeping the cir
Gle mnthcmatiGally exact BY little and III.
tie the furor was developed, and they whirl.
ed with rapidity. II was representation, 10
my mind, of the solar system in miniature
While each revolvcd on n centre. all were
going round the room. They had slcoply
expression, as though in Vertigo, and that
is the stage at which they feel thepsclves all
sorbed or expanded, know not which, into
communion with the divine essence.