New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-25

lied countries, ard il is generally the custom here
to hang bits of clothing scraps of hair or teeth past
chewing upon the shrine as propitatory offerings
to the SAINTS spook.
Passing the Muristan and a dozen other mosques
in different states of decay, cross the Boulevard
Mohammed Ali and pull up at the Mosque FL Akbar.
IL is Friday. about p. m and a number of Giaours
from New-fork and other great cities are arriving
every moment. This unusual gathering indicates
mat something Is going on. or is going to go on"
ascend some crooked stairs, traverse sundry pas
sages, end then, 10 my great astonishmeut. find my
self III veritable circus with veritable ring. a
yeritable upper balcony, and vertabe orchestra
in the middle Of it. The circus is of wood.
neatly painted green, bat instead Of medallions of
gallopng horses or equestrian 'ylphs there are
verses OF The Koran, written In Aiaplc letters be
rug is there, carefully raile H. but there is floor
INST al of the orthodox tan and sawdust. and on
this noOr there squats circle of plOus medItaiive
persons of all ages and cOors. They wear tall
w0oen hats and long loose skirts, and some of
them are rfect dandes their boards being trimmed
Visible nsn s sD their SsSS f 5s o Sd
tTgednfe belle. These evidently the Jeunes pre-
mTS OF the troupe, out they are now as solemn
anu demure as the first Old man." who occupies
scat on the floor facing the orchestra, and who Is
9ent double from long, serious consideration; IN
deed bis back so hent that he is not able TO get up
70 an erect position, hut when the band strikes up
make some remarks which GlsOnrs cannot Oi course,
unders and. The flutes discOu' So sweet music, and
al signal the circle of performers procerd TO
parade around the ring in single file This Is kept
up I'LL all the performers have had opportunity
oil lnprcsslDg the aud ence, and then at tap of the
drum each taxes different position the floor
and begins, like the heavenly bodies TO
reyolve each on his own axis. Ii is
not waltzlng, for they never move from their
positions, but they rOun0 on one toe accelerat-
ing the movement with he other foot, until their
yOlumlnous pc ticoats inflated like balloons
and the heads OF the spectators spin IN unison with
their gyratlOns. But in heir widest flights the
artistic DervlshCs never for IT the pose of Their
figures, and some of he dandies twirlrd with "a
many pretty airs pets of the ballet at the opera.
But there is some stimulus wanI 2 to-day either
The divine atlatus is not there OF there are not
enough lockers on 10 guarantee liberal
bakSbiSb." They do not spin as furiOu'lv nor
dive down and strike the floor and then spring up
with that veiOclty which others who have
WI messed their performance have led rs
TO expect And when they stop suddenly, as cool as
cucumbers, and ereuRt. preceded Oy the " first ola
man, specta Ors feel that they have been 10 certain
extent 5winded; and a. pass and meet the
sexton of this pOus brotheTho holding the uuiver
sal hat, rebe and only respond with the small st
coins and not melted with the reprOvlng look Ot
the sexton, who, with franc IN one hand as the
st ndard of what he would like 10 receive.
accepted with the other hand the "beggarly pas
trr,p and mumhed IN Arabic what the London
cabDy" expresses in lis yernacular as "Wots
this :" GEORGE FAwCETT ROWE