, 1875-05-02
4 Pas seul on a Red-Hot Shovel by =
Bedouln Artist.
One Pfous Performer Eats Lire Scor-
pion to the Glory Of tie Prophet.
Another Sticks Himself Full of !Skewers, and
Thanks 6od...Etpn.epikes in the Aldo
men as a Heans Of Grace.
A Dinner Of Nails, and contentment
Therowith--Gouging Ones Eye
Out for Penauce.

sp.csa corre*po,.i<aee Of The Chicago zri6sns
:. A1orzRs, Atrica, Jan. Is, 1875.-0ne OF the
most interesting sights to be found in AgieEs.
rs. in fact, in all Mshometan countries, is the
performance OF what aro called the Howhng, or
DANCING DERy1sHEs.
| The M.hometan religion, like all othere. ia d.
yidel into numberless sects; and these Der
| yish.s constitute Que OF Them They seem TO be
descended from the Arabs, who did not ut first
em,r,=e the religion Of the Prophet, but adhered
! to their idol-worship. The Dervshes OF the
| uesent day retain many Of the ideas and cus-
| Dme Of these ancestors; but they ars more OF
less Influenced BY continual contact with the true
believers, until even the Prophet himself, ob-
lorred BY their ancestors als traitor to their
gods, has grown to be pnrt OF their religion
and reyered almost as god. But their cere-
monies OF worship srs eminently heathen; the
humanizing Influenza OF Mahomet has not grown
upon them sufficiently to change their customs
in that respect.
A. short time since, wp received information
from our draguman, who WAS with us on she
lion hunt, that there gas shortly to be per-
fo1uanco by the Derrishes, to ba given in
Agiers. We we're then upon the point Of leav-
ing for Tunia and Carthage, but decided to re-
main specially to see tho performance. Two
DAYS LATER, while slipping our morning chocolate,
there nns ring at the big coW-bell. which
serves to announce visitors in all the "appdrte-
naents louer in Agiezs, and, on going to the
door, found the dragoman, turban in hand,
making the politest OF boSs, and wishing us al
sorts Of good fortune. After the usual amount
of crcumlocution, he informed Us that the
Dervishes would hold meeting that evening,
and il we would be at the Hotel DOrlene At p.
N. he would bs happy to conduct us. in connec-
ton with party who we're going.
At the hotel at the appointed hour ~ meta
half-dozen others, Frensh and English, and i'm
mediate1y started, the dragomau in the lead, for
THE PLACE or TIE PERFORMANCE.
Our route Law up through the old Moorish city,
up the narrow stre.ts OF stairs, winding through
the crooked byvsys Of Old Alg1ers to the crest OF
the Sahet Hill, 1here, in the shade Of the tower
inc. but cruriblng walls of the Kasba {the az
oieut ci.sdel OF the Deys), our path ended in
front Il white wall, and heavy
oakan door, we'll studded with iron bolts.
There was o email square hole near the top,
bard like prison window The hoarse cry Of
| or Arab guide WAS answered by the appearance
| cf eight long fingers clinging to the bottom Of
lie window; and soon Wild face was drawn up
| nil in the moonlight which was streaming over
our shoulders. Our guide drew near, and, after
exchanging few words in Arabic, the bolts
we're drawn, the door swung open, aud ne pass-
ed inside-
We found ourselves in q narrow hail., which,
turning first to the right and then to the left,
brought us into an open court, with stone pillars
all around it, supporting balcony above. The
oppo7lse Gnu oemno 'ne P'''4is mas W. "tn
mAts, which were also strewn across one. end OF
the open place in the centre. Some Arabs were
scattered about on the mass all engaged in
ar.ro- Nons ~ +ba7,, aa;oned n notSca ma "a
p4e.o. Hee 49, =. s,.. ~ heh;,5 49, ,;1,.ra
We formed nne On ono sloe oen1no 'no pliais'
No mats had been provided for us; but our
guide procured rude bench, which was much
mora tn tho nnrnoso. Tn the centre of the court
W. .,. r.-rc~,o ii .1.;rst ,ha ,;,oor,. ho,t
d olln canoAo e@tu "F@4n7s - 'n0 e1oon aoos'
it, while . stuan braAer OF i've Goals, with
queer little cneckerec oox Keeping IL company
stood near the candle. Iho faanng around tne
balcony was covered hese ana tnefe, WIN queer
striped cloths, tnrouen "hlch We soon oesee:eo
many pairs Of bright eyea glstening. That
We tried many tines 70 ges up = nirsanon ons
the eyes would 40 notnlos pus Rns6en' na't II
ml5th' 1 hait & ~ curiosity: a. ns" . .nd +,,. an
otne1 alaos came " y ono9 a1u 1Moe, Ia aA
o$oPp'u6 ~ VIC "u@Ae',]e w s@e9 - sN f
pers, ~hlch tney carried IN % teelr aanGs t 20 sneH
seats porion q tnem, 1e!o5o t eeanng ~ anem en-
selyoo: rent aronha ana sAuteo :nose VINO naa
a1ElYeo oetoIo tnem' sitaes ~ Alssn6 m .n9 ~
1oIeneAu OF tnto"inE s'eses ~ tne". 1no oio
pat!1a5ens, wmo seemen 70 po seateu e1elast'et5
.L le s++a.+o 10 =; So ts;s ~
ee.re0 ,t w 441oat :. asSexo ~ 4s 4t tSot'
etEe"u on 'ne %a.e nSas .u9 W. VI o@.ef "eio
oo@en u nao1e " ~ mnat .ts, aouAeu =. -. uHn
cnhsss-soA M ~ Ilos VII prasant1a a.an
lau % sna7 49, ~ .ne n;na .1 thssa ~ ~ sozuH "
;nS sue thar, 80 ~ hross,ar snd +,an n,.r,,r
1n6 H-eu ~, ~ Ao o.@:ao. I'm mt, 100 P P'H,.uH
On tnem IKE tamuoasanee' iAls oonpeteo'
very ta VIII s Gsly sna %a ~ s'e1 ~ Ill., y
the mats; and, folloElng his guidance, dozen
OF more touk up me ~ sampoars; ea aao oesan play,
ing on snem an9 s,nn1s eu ~ duoos sen
lnoseg; nt ssty s't, tSax, ana aa1 .haE
to worked
tSe;r fbe Uid aTes elared erceiy tbeir breatbisr
hecsua nnicI tier bodies swayed VIOLENTLY.
and ] the;r aTms ani heads ffev about with wo;,.
derfnI % i'm ranidi.T @ n meanwhile they we're cont;rual-
" eta e1eb.pei1M I % tambours by throwing theu, at
e,ch other Eomatimss from ore side Of the
conrt ~ ,he other' Towarfis the closn there was
= ~ rurnhinr sronn;1 thu niaca, as of n crow-
~ ~" s+or1a hnt At lat thew eeased with 9rand
bg ans;.h saJ iesvne the % players % yery IN mnc6 eT-