Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-04
EVENING STAR
FROM the Missouri Democrat.

From the Missouri Democrat
THE TURKS IS THEY ARE.
LEAF FROM THE JOURNAL OF LIEUT.. ".
D. PORTER.
But one work, translated in English,
has as yet appeared before the public,
giving the Turkish Alcoran, or Bible.
This is full of inaccuracies, and does not
detail the mixed religion of the Mussel-
man, which is divided into as many sects
as are the Christian denominations. We
are all familiar with the fact of the two
great factions in the Turkish religion
those who have Mahomet, and those who
call Ali their head. The latter are look
ed upon in the same light as the Chris
tians regard the Jews. But there are
sects very much resembling the Chris
tians-the Howling Dervishes, for in
stance. These may properly be called
the MethOdists of the Mahomedan church:
they are only rather more enthusiastic,
and their ceremonies characterised by
superstitions. To describe them fully.
would be utterly impossible, and but a
faint description can be given of them at
best; still after naming few of the other
sects, we will endeavor to describe their
ceremonies. There is the plain Ma
homedan or orthodox church; the Dirty
Dervishes; the Howling Dervishes: the
Turning Dervishes, or Turkish Shaking
Quakers; the true followers of Mahomet,
and the followers of Ali; the Begging
Dervishes, and the Silent Dervishes.
On entering the small and not very
neat mosque of the Howling Dervishes,
we found several of them already present
and beginning lew growing chant. In
q few moments, IS if animated by the
presence of the Christian dogs, several
others joined the singers and raised the
growl note or two higher. Their dress
consisted Of nothing but pair of loose
Turkish trowsers, and small skull cap
on their heads. In this costume, they
began to move around, one after another,
in circle; now and then one or two
dropping in and joining the dance, which
was slow and measured at first, but as
their voices rose, the dance became more
animated, while their motions resembled
the Indian buffalo dance-stooping, Jump
ing and comforting their bodies in every
conceivable manner, but the chaunt soon
rose to dismal howl; several juveniles
stepped into the dance, and their squeak
ing voices and quick convulsions of their
bodies, gave the whole thing still more
ludlcrous appearance. Still louder rose
the Notwithstanding combination of
the Indian war-whoop, the hoarse moan
ings of the winds, the growl of some wild
beast, the chatter of the monkey and the
shrill squeal of the pig.
But all these horrible noises were per.
fectly eclipsed by the contortions of the
faces, muscles and body. Their ewes
rolled until nothing but the whites could
be seen. Their tohgCes were Iapped out
of their mouths and frothing, dancing
jumping, crawling, screaming, rolling,
twisting themselves in every conceivable
manner, until completely exhausted they
fell, some on their faces, others on their
sides and backs; and after nature had
become apparently restored, they again
rose to their feet, began manning them
selves in the most shocking manner W.
knives, sharp instruments and again 20.
ing through the same ceremony of how
ing, squealing, dancing, and falling in-
sensible; where, laying sometime, they
quietly arose and asked the Chri.tial.
dogs for money, which we, as matter
o. course, gave them.
The turning Dervishes next attracted
our attention: their mosque is plain and
spacious. We found some twenty or
thirty already on the plain going through
their revolving. The dress of this order
consists of conical cap and loose frock
of white stuff, and while turning around
in their dance they resembled a candle
extinguisher. These, too, have a song
but one low and melodious. Their whole
ceremony consists in turning round, and
by long practice and stretching out their
arms, the revolutions of the persons be-
come so rapid that they resemble cone
surrounded by fat disc. These, too,
begged few favors from the Christian
visitors, and we willingly gave it for the
privilege of seeing their small fry lions.
The dirty Dervishes' religion consists in
merely never changing any article of
clothing, until it actual drops off in rags:
and in remaining, from the date of their
entering the order until death, abomina-
bly, filthy, never sweeping their apart
ments, and never sleeping on anything
in a clean place.
But it is very easy matter for Turk
to become dirty Dervish though they
frequently bathe, they seldom change
their clothing. The thoughts, feelings,
habits, and manners of the Turks are de-
cidedly of low order; they have few
books of light literature, but none on any
of the important sciences. He smokes
his pipe. drinks his coffee, and lolls in
the lap of his wife or slave, dates every
thing from Frankinstan, Christian land,
and dreams of nothing else but sensual
paradise from his earliest years to old
age he is q sensuslist, and exnects af.