Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-08-07
EVENING STAR.
Religious Fanatteisrn.
roWLINe DERvIsHxs OF SMYRNA.

ROWLING DERvIsHEs OF SMYRNA.
Sunday comes three times a week in Smyrna.
The Tufkish day OF worship is on Friday, the
day Of MOhammed's hegira; Saturday is the
Jewish Sabbath, and Sunday Is supposed to be
and Greek churches. On Friday Z" Isaac" came
down in the morning to say that we could see
and hear the bowling deryishes il we would
like. 80 we started at about ten O'Clock,
up into 1urktovn, and stopped at length be-
fore small, unpretending edifce In front,
and between 1t and the street, was a garden of
tropical and native plants and trees, low palms
and bright flowers, purple olives and golden
Eomegrsnites shining on the rich, green foliage:
We entered through an ample gateway, and
cIoSseu mosaic pavement of little oiack
and white stones to a paved court of the same,
which surrounded the building on three Sides
On one side was another smaller bulldlng, open
on the side, facing the larger one, INTO wnlch
those VITO took part in the ceremonies retired
fTCm time to time. We were not alOwe1 10
enter the building, but might look IN through
the doors or Windows. Around the sides OF the
larger hall or room, were old men with long
white boards and flowing robes: Young men with
rich tuTbaus and saShes OF crimson ana clOth OF
gold. little brigLt-eyed boys, with turban and
fez and robes, Ike their Older and sterner look
ing SCrapauiOns- Many wear a green turban,
signifying that the wearer has made pilgrimage
t. Mecca All were seated in the Turkish man
neT, leaving large open space in the center
Presently one, in a long, flowing, white robe
stood IA the centre of the room aud commenced
% chant in 'Ow dismal tone. Then other
arose, and forming a circle around him, took
Up the chant from time to time. Each one, as
BE joined the circle, put his right arm around
one neighbOr' neck and the left arm around the
others waist, the little bows joining in the circle
with as much eaTnestness a. any Ct the rest.
All the time the low, cultural chant con-
tnues-Allah Heu! Allah Heu ! as though the
trst word was pronounced with an inspiration
and the latter with an expiration OF the breath.
With tie GTSt word, each one makes a back
ward step, and with the second. "a step forward,
and at the same time in direction around the
ring. After a little time one or two Others enter
the ring, ana the bowling begins, at first in
low wall, which il gradually intensified into
perfect shrek; then il becomes more quiet;
again IL rises into a fierceT howl, wild and aban-
COned, and dies away at length into plaintive
wall, again and again rises that single cry,
az OF soul in deepest agony, while through
out the whole is heard the low, harsh
nonOtone-''Allah Hen Allah Heui' like the
Indeed il i almost impossible not TO connect the
idea of pain with the whole ceremony. The
almost shUdiering motion with which the circle
OF wOrshiPpeTs moved around, the wild, lonely
fering, ttly expressed the words they uttered, as
the guide told us when We asked what they said:
"They pray TO God; they say God have mercy
God have pity w And he cautioned US, as We
hearing OF any Turk, a. it would give great
Ofense, srd might be attended with unpleasant
results corresPoHtsncs Boston Globe.
r2-Not a subject for mans-laug hter-man-
slaughter.
syIt is avery trying thing to a whist-player
10 find fourteen cards i'll his hand; quite an
@ ordeal, in fact.
1-A western paper pictures reporter, in a
proposed new style of schO0l-reader, thusy:
t'HeTe's the face Of a repOrter. See how joyful
he looks. He mas Just heard that a man has cut
his own throat, and he is going for the item.
should yOu like to be a reporter and get licked
on dark nights, and see dead persons, and climb
" four pairs OF staiTs.f