The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-07-19
THE HowLING DERvIsHEs or THE
EAST.


EAST.
Perhaps some account Of the orgies of the
Howling Dervishes, aa now pracised in Tur-
key---thcre being little surgery in their ia
nAtical ahtics--may be interesting TO the rea-
.dera Of the Journal. This order are really and
truly the descendants OF the e-worshippcru
OF Antiquity---the BRalites, four hundred Of
whose priests were slain by Elijah the proph-
et near the shabby town OF Kypher, about
two miles 10 the north Of the Convent ON Mt
Carmel, When INSTRUMENTATION began 10
spread, undor the irresistible influence Of ba-
mAscus blades these mad fellows gradually y
incorporated enough of the new doctrine with
their own bloody rites, IN be spared, and in
these latter days the priests of BaAl aud thoir
devout disciplrs embrace the most orthodox
sanctifed Mussulmen of the East. Az Sou
tari, where one mosque is located, on the east
aide or the Busphurus, was fortonate ie
gaining admission and though compelled 10
stand in my stocking feet more than an hour
I folt compensated for this sacrifice, as we'll
as that OF wading through mud, and passing
another under caves, before gaining admiss-
ion into the sanctum sanctorum. The mosque
has side. kApcries-one being occupied by
males, and the opposite, boarded up to the
top with fine lattice work, by females who
can peep through without being seen. No
females are admitted on the lower floor. On
entering from the front door, wo turned TO
the right, into sort Of long pew, rallied on
from the main floor OF the mosque, probably
farty ,aEa laet sanaFa.a AZ 0as sad, 90 Tall,os.
the upper side Of the apartment, sat the prin.
eipal priest, man Of about ffly, with keen
restless eyes. He was supported on the right
and len by other, but inferior priests, desig-
mated by the magnitude and structure ofthcir
turbans and robes. Back of them, next the
wall, were several vory large, fat.grey-bearh-
cd, eminent men, we'll accommodated on sofN
mats. Two lateral lines Of worshippers ex-
tended down towards the loweer end of the
mosque. Suspended on the wall back Of
the chief operators, were horrible LOCKING
axes :-one had a cutting edge Of full tN3ti feet
with a long handle Then there were hooks,
sharp spears, &C., sc. The collection was
large, and made ones flesh crawl not little
the floor and. galleries were twenty-three
large tambourines, eleven small drums, and
eight pair Of metal cymbals. For a consider
able time they were in kind of eestatic
payer, wagging their heads either way, with
closed eyes aud ontspread hands, while the
priest kept up a demi-muscal recitative Artic-
3 utatiUu. By and b,--tlfey simultaneously
=. c. n
their arms over each others shoulders, and
performed something analogous to dance,
stamping to the time of a monotonous chant,
q and moving round and round in circle. A
low hum, not dissimilar to the drone of a bag
pipe, rs heard in Scotland, an octave below
the tone of the leader, producing a striking
efees even upon myself BY degrees they
warmed up, and as the furor began to APP
+, proAch, garment after garment was detached,
and some of them were wild as manacs in
! their lgesticulations Next the circle broke,
and lines were formed. The singing became
more irnpassioned, and there they stood bow.
ing and swaying, without moving their feet,
o precisely +as the dancing girls Of Upper Egypt
aensertain their patrons. Finally, two stout
icito"5p strippSu 10 the hkln all Dut their
drawers, marched to the priest who put into
!, their hands two wooden balls each, project
ing from which were poniards, ten inches
long, sharp and bright. They flourished them
in AZ DIRECTIONS, bowed, whirled about the
@balls,neAriy the ordinary size Of ninepin balls,
with such careless activity, that / endeavorcd
10 get behind pillar, lest one ofthem should
by fom their grasp in my direction. At the
msment when the whole assembly OF worship
'psrs were wrought to the highest bearable
point of excitement, amid the din Of the tam
bohripes, drums, cymbals, chants, and inter
rnittent howls-which latter were low, SOL
emn, and unearthly--one of them fell on bis
back, with the stIarp point ofthe dagger rest.
< ing ON the pit of his stomach. With Arm
grasp be held il pefpendieularly- balls
y beina free at the other cnd-aboYe bis cleneh
ed fingers. Ono Of the priests, supported by
the hands Of two assistants, stepped up and
stood with one foot on the haiis4--sI.ti tfesss-
''elssI4est his weight SHOULD drive the dagger
\ sAAIansh The body Of the iufaAssted ereaAure.
But by his rredigioGs strength he supported