Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-06-17
The Dancing Dervishes.

Near our hotel are the dancing der
wishes. I suppose there are ample de-
scriptions of these dervishes and their
mummeries, but haye not read them.
I give what saw. The dancing sect
whirl around gently on their toes. Their
arms are extended and eyes sleepy or
dreamy. They keep their places, like
stars in their orbits, as they move
around, while a solemn brother, with
arms folded and in prayer, moves be-
tween the revolving orbsl Their robes
fly out as though they would make .
cheese, as the children used to say.
They have sweet chant. Their closed
eyes and whirl indicate that they see
the invisible Allah wherever they turn
These do not howl. For that, we
went to Scutari. There is convent OF
them there. We slipped behind the
curtain and went up into the gallery,
looking down into court. There was
an altar and group of variously
dressed dervishes. Some were soldiers,
some boys, and some little girls in tin
seled dresses some were black and
ebony, some tall, some small, some thin,
some handsome, some hideous, and all
joined in the prayers and chants. A few
kneeled on sheepskin, while others
formed hollow square and began
swaying and singing, while the tum-tum
of the tamborine and clash of cymbals
gave out the pleasing concord of
threshing machine When the agony
was sufficient and the steam was on with
full head, the swaying and bowling
and barking, and swapping and jerking
of head and body, and the frothing and
hard breathing and general diabolism
began. The songs were repetitions,
and not unmusical at intervals where
flute like melody, instrumental, came
in as prelude to additional bowling.
We stood this for an hour. One man,
of excellent appearance, with long.
glossy auburn hair and q rich voice, as
it sounded QUO "Allah |" and NAH
moud |" seemed to be chief. and ruled
them with look. He gave glance at
one, and of would go coat, or tur-
ban, or their high white sugar loaf hat,
and on would go white night-cap.
One African of the worst aspect ever
saw on human face, if, indeed, it was
not visor hiding the human face,
seemed to be as 1.-the and loathsome as
snake. He was six feet and more,
and in his bare feet. His tongue would
loll out and his body would comfort till
you could scarcely see what form it had.
The negro miustrels, when they mimic
the excesses of the negroes South al
their revivals, are but faint copies oi
the wildness of this Nub q beast, ashe
twisted, snapped, clucked, barked and
howled. We went out for fresh air, te
return to see the strangest of ceremonies
Their chief and some of his subordi
mates were sitting cross-legged ant
making sacred knots in white napkin
Y when we e-entered. Then prone on thei
: faces were arayed dozen children
:, from two months old up to twelve ant
this dervish walked over and on thei
bodies. Yes, on them, each and all.
a would not have believed it had I no
, seen it. Not once, but four times, thes
PROSTATE lines OF children were formed
a and he trod on them each and al
' Whereupon they arose sanctified an
r cleared of disease for that is the the
I ory In came soldier and lay fiat. b
D had the rheumatism. And along wit
HIM line was formed, some OF th
same little ores going fiat again. Ose
the lot the chief travelled. The soldie
got up and Kissed the dervish's hanG
: He took care to place his foot on til
upper part of the thigh behind. An
surgeon may tell you whether this is
! ! vulnerable spot. Not child whin
pered, not a soul smiled. coul
:, neither enjoy nor cease to wonder.
;, What is the solution of this seemir
! physical paradox? That question
: asked of gentleman learned in IL
II customs here. He said
- "Did you observe two priests
= loose robes on each side of the lii
!. holding the chiefs arms?"
: eyes; but I did not see that the
could have carried him safely over, allov
- ing only slight touch to the childr,
- :, with the priestly foot"
- "That," said he, sis my solution, al
:. the only one I have. Two strong m,
!. might do it after much practice"