The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-05-26
WESTMINSTER, MD SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1877.

All is ready The miracle performing
Shiek, who has passed the night and the
morning in fasting and prayer, is now seen
approaching, ushered also by banners and
more Deryishes, who dart to the end, and
also fling themselves along the continuing
line, even well into the tent Of the Shiek.
Then follows the most revolving scene
which has greeted the human eyes since
the suppression Of the Indian car Of jug
gernaut, of which most probably the Doseh
is an imitation. This lonely man, passed
the middle age, in the grand robes Of his
calling, and under turban as sadly out
of proportion as drum-majors bearskin,
mounted upon fine Arab gray horse,
with naked hoof, large and well trimmed,
nears the further end Of the line. The
horse, less brutal then his rider, hesitates;
Shiek leads him forward; he mounts the
line PROSTATE grinning forms; is steadied
on either side by one or two assisting men
who hold to the Shiek. At u good pace
the horse follows the seis, who has dropped
the rein, and now only guides; the other
three assistants keep their hold, and all
with horse and rider treading full on the
bodies, hands and shoulders, and legs and
ribs alike. Nothing is heard but the con
tinuing inyocations, and the multitude
look on in silence and with palpitating
breasts The Shiek, with head fallen to
the right, eyes seemingly closed, affects
supernatural physiognomy, which suggests
the irreverent exclaim, Husband of a
Madonna |" He had no sooner passed
than men jumped up and ran off, but
scores and scores, with painful features,
closed eyes, and almost silent prayer, were
lifted up, foaming with blood about the
mouths, and spirited away, evidently seri.
ously injured, the equable pace Of the
horse carrying both fore aud hind foot
upon the bodies on which he trod.
Egyptians of all degrees inform me that
there is no hasheesh used by the principal
performers in this horrible ceremony, al
though, apropos Of this, it may be stated
that the drug is commonly used by many
of the lower order. While waiting for the
Shiek an Arab relates to me that any
other horse than the traditional gray one
may be used that on a former occasion,
by suggestion, European horse was noun.
ted, but would not put foot upon the bodies
until the Shiek had dismounted and gone
through certain incantations around the
fractious animal, which then, unguided,
strobe down the line as if it were his daily
work. Further, after the ceremony Of
yesterday, it was not long until one could
hear repeated through the Arab crowd
story to the effect that the horse, in tread
ing the human way, stopped suddenly and
still, just as he came to curiosity seeking
Captain, who had smuggled himself into
the line; and it was not until the unbe-
lever was dragged out that the horse
would proceed. During the ceremony l
was in the tent of the Shiek, and looked
down the length of the line, but having
neither eaten nor smoked of hasheesh, |
was unable to see what had been so gen.
orally observed by the native population.
The peculiar dancing and singing of the
Dervishes after this was kept up until their
grand feast in the evening, followed by
fireworks, the moast brilliant of the week,
and continued until dawn, when tents fell
and the multitude disappeared as chaf
before the wind