The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-04-28

as long as it is maintained, the Islam
faith will continue to be a great power in
the world
In this connection | cannot omit some
mention of the fanatical ceremonies of the
Dervishes in the
Mosques of ell Akbar and Kasr-el Ain,
to which foreigners are admitted every
Friday afternoon. The first of these
Mosques is low, dingy-looking building,
into which the visitor descends by flight
of steps from the street. In the interior
is floor of polished wood surrounded by
railing, outside of which strangers are
permitted to stand. When we entered
about dozen Dervishes were sitting on
the floor within the rail, dressed in
close-ftting Jacket, from which depended
a loose, drab-colored skirt, descending
below the knees. On the eastern side the
chief of the fakirs was standing on car
pet-pale, emaciated, and distracted with
an aspect of deep sadness. In gallery
above us were some musicians, whom we
could not see, playing slow, doleful air
on their rude instruments. Presently
plaintive voice was heard reciting what
l took to be prayer, or a chapter of the
Koran, the sitting Dervishes occasionally
bowing forward toward the floor. Then
the leader, who wore the green turban-
a sign that he had made the pilgrimage
to Mecca-walked slowly to the centre
of the circle, and the others rose and be-
gan marching round, making profound
obeisance as they passed the sacred car
pet. Presently the time of the music
became quicker, and one by one they
commenced to whirl, until finally they
spun like tops on their toes, their eyes
closed their heads thrown back and their
arms extended. Their rapid gyrations
made their skirts expand in the most ex-
traordlnary manner, and one gets dizzy
and almost sick in watching these spin
ming walters whirling it is said at the
rate OF sixty revolutions minute. But
this performance is nothing to what is
seen In the Mosque KaSr-eI Ai4, to-which
we next hastened. There the Howling Der
wishes display their fanatical devotions
About fifty of them arrange themselves
In circle, after the fashion of our In
dams In war-dance. Just outside the
ring stands a man who chants some
Arabic exhortations accompanied by a !
performer on plaintive reed flute. After
while, other musicians sound the ddrd-
6hkkeh "a funnel-shaped drum with a
skin stretched across the. broad end) and
the tambourine, and the men in the ring
begin to bow, uttering at the same time
hoarse hoo In concert, with horrible eff
feet on the nerves of those who hear it.
AS the music grows more intense, the
bowings increase in length, until the
heads Of the performers almost touch the
floor. Most Of them wear hair which has
never been cut, and as they throw their
heads trantically backward and forward
1T makes S1OlShl',g sound as it cuts the.I
air: By-and-by they grow more wild, |
and remind one of the fierce demoniac
who came out of the tomb, as in their
mad contortions they shout altogether.
Ld 1Ldho iLLa-lLdh, with great and swollen
veins in their foreheads, and ewes plarinp
like maniacs. 1t is a sort of religious ep7
llepsy. Some Of the spectators seemed di- |
verted by the scene, but could no more
laugh at the frenzy of these Dervishes
than could at the rawlings of a poor de-
mented man yelling at midnigh moon
through the bars Of bedlam. I was never
more profoundly impressed with the power
OF false religion in debasing both BODY
and soul, or of the might and precious
ness of that gospel which will one dav
bring even these fanatical followers of
the False Prophet to the feet of Jesus.
clothed and in their right minds.
In contrast with the great work to be
accomplished before Egypt becomes
Christian country how feeble seem to be
the influences for good now in operation
And yet the dav Of small things is not to
be despised. The leaven of the gospel
has already been hidden in the mass. and
silently it is working and assimilatinp
what it touches. In the beautiful pro-
vince OF the Fayoum many of the Young
men IN business or engaged in teaching,
and who will soon be the leaders of public
opinion, were educated at the mission
school at Osiout. The boarding schools
for girls here in Cairo are destined to
play still more important part.
1t is in vain to educate young men if
they are to marry ignorant Mohammedan
women. But if the girls are taught what
is really useful, and above all, if they are
lmbued with vital religious truth. then
they not only become prepared to be at
the head Of the household, but the eman-
clPation of their degraded sex in the East
has begun.