Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-07-31
[PROPRIETORS.
The Elowling Dervisnes of the
EnSr.

| Perhaps some account of the orgies of
the Howling Dervishes.as now practised in
Turkey-there being a little surgery in
their fanatical an;ics-may be interesting
| TO the readers Of the Journal This order
are really and truly the descendants ofthe
fire worshippers ofantiquity--the Qualities.
four hundred Of whose priests were slain
by Elijah the prophet, near the town Of
kypher, about two miles 10 the North Of
the convent on Mount Carmel. When
Mahommedanism began to spread, under
the irresistible influence Of Damascus
blades, these mad fellows gradually incor-
porated enough of the new doctrue with
their own bloody rites to be spared, and
In these latter days the priests OF Baal and
| their devout disciples embrace the most
orthodox, sanctiiicd Mussulmen Of the
East AT Scutaii, where one mosque is
located OH the East side Of the Bosphorus,
| was fortunate in gaining adnissio and
though compelled to stand in my stocking
feet more than an hour, | felt compensated
for this sacrifice, as well as that of wading
through mud, and passing another hour
under the caves, before gaining admission
into the Saactzm SaRctorVn.
The mosque has side gallcres--onc be-
ing occupied by males, and the opposite.
boarded up to the top with fine lattice
by females, who can peep through without
being seen. No females arc admired on
the lower floor. On entering from the
front door, we turned to the right, into
sort Of long pew, rallied of from the main
floor otthe mosque, probably forty five
feet square. AT one end, or rather the up
per side Of the apartment, sat tho principal
priest, man Of about fifty, with Keen rest
less eyes. He was supported on the right
and left by other, but inferior priests, de-
signatcd BY magnitude and structure Of
next the wall, were several very large.
fat, grey bearded eminent men, well ac-
commodated with soft mats. Two lateral
lines ofworshippers sextcndcd down toward
the lower end Of the mosque. Suspended
on the wall back Of the chief operators
were horrible looking axes; one had a cut
ting edge offull two feet, with long han
die. Then there We're hooks, sharp spears.
&c. &c. The collection was large, and
made ones flesh crawl not little to look
at it. On the line midway between the
| floor and galleries were twenty three large
Iamhourines, eleven small drums and eight
pair Of metal cymbals.
For considerable time they were in a
kind of ecslatic prayer, wagging their
heads either way, closed eyes and out.
spread hands, while the priest kept up n
demi-musical rccitative articulation. By
and by they simultaneously sprang to their
feet, formed circle, placing their arms
over each others shoulders, and perform.
ing something analogous to dance, stamp
ing TO the time oia monotonous chant,
and moving round and round in a CIRCLE
A low hum, not dissimiar to the drone Of
a bagpipe, as heard in Scotland, an octave
below the tone ofthe leader, produced
striking effect, even upon myself. BY de-
grocs they warmed up, and no the furor
began to approach, garmentafter garment
was detached, and some We're wild as ma
macs in their gesticulations. Next the cir
Gle broke and lines were formed The
singing became more impassioncd, and
there they stood, bowling and swaing,
without moving their feet, precisely as the
dancing girls Of Upper Egypt entertain
their patrons. Finally, two stout fellows,
stripped TO the skin, all but their drawers
marched TO the priest, who put into their
hands two wooden balls, each projecting
from which were ponnrds ten inches long
sharp and bright. They Aourshed them
in all directions, bowed, whirlcd about the
balls, with such careless activity, that |
cndeavorcd to get behind pillar, lest ono
Of them should hy from their grasp in my
direction
| AT the moment when the whole Assem-
| bly, OF worshippers were wrought to the
highest bearable point of excitement, amid
the din of fthetambourines, drums, cymbals,
chants, and intermittent howls--which
latter were low, solemn aud unearthly-
one of them fell on his back, withthe sharp
| point of the dagger resting on the pit Of bis
stomach. With a firm grasp he held it per-
pcndicularly-the balls being free az the
other end-above his clinched fingers
One Of the priests, supported by the hands
Of two assistants, stepped up and stood
with one foot on the balls--nnd | trem-
blcd lest his weight should drive the dag
ger thyough the body Of The infatuated
creature. But by his prodigious strength
be supported the pondcrous old priest,
and kept the dagger from being forced
through to the floor. This was denomna-
ted miraculous circumstances Next, FIVE
boys, from twelve down 10 not far from
six years Of age, came up to the snme
priest, who took sharp steel rod, The
size Of the largest sail needle, having a
heavy fiat handle in the form Of crozier,
and thrust it through both checks Of each
boy--the handle on one side, and the pro-
truding point on the other, giving all of
ten inches in length to the Instrument
Being between the jaws, the teeth could
not be closed. The youngest fiinched
trife, but the others were perfectly firm
They then took their places, unable TO
close the mouth, while the blood trickled
down to the chin. Their distorted coun-
tenanccs were extremely Painfnlto contcm-
plate.
At this stage Of the exhibition miracles
were to be wrought for the recovery Of
sick persons One after another laid fiat
on their backs, and the old priest stepped
on their bodies and bore his whole weight
on the chest, Five were PROSTATE at once.
over whomhc walked, giving cacht pres
sure ofhis holy feet One female was in
trodnced yelled, who was placed on her
face. An infant, too, was placed under
the torture Of his ponilfcal tread. When
the steel stilletoes were Withdrawn from
the cheeks Of the boys, examined the
wound ofonc ofthcm, and the little decciv-
ed chap declared that it did not hurt him,
and the gaping crowd Of undignifed Mus
snlmen viewed it as most marvellous mat
ter that they were not injured, pained or
maimed-a convincing proof 70 them Of
the divine nature Of the act. Government
have. to its honor. forliddnn MANY az ,bc