The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-10-11
Dancing Dervishes.

stay III AlSleTS, we were lnlOrHcu tHdI lnc
Dancing Dervishes, or Aissaoui, as they are
called, were to give performance. Ac-
cordingly that evening, having procured a
guide, we proceeded to the place where the
performance was to be given, driving
through the narrow streets connecting the
French with the Moorish quarter of the
town, until they became so narrow and
winding that it was impossible to go fur
ther Here we left the carriages in small
square, where four fiat stones imbedded in
the ground marked the spot where prisoners
were formerly beheaded, and walked on
through the narrow, dimly lighted street,
and on arriving at our destination were
ushered into a large old Moorish house,
with its central open court, galleries and
communicating rooms. On two sides of
this court, which was lighted by Pickering
candles, are benches for spectators, while
before them perhaps fifty Arabs in their
picturesque costumes were sitting cross
legged, smoking and drinking coffee. In
the centre of the court was large square
carpet, upon which was brazier of burning
charcoal, and behind it was lighted candle
about three feet in height. Behind this
candle six musicians were seated, in the
centre of whom was the master of cere-
monies or high priest of the order, an in
telligent appearing Arab of perhaps forty
years of age In the gallery Immediately
above us, partly concealed by screens of
rugs and shawls, were many Moorish
women, and when the exercises became
exciting one could occasionally catch a
glimpse of pretty face. At "a given signal
the music commenced. The instruments
were immense tambourines, perhaps two
aud half feet in diameter, which they
tuned to the right musical pitch by occa-
sionally heating them over the charcoal fire.
The noise produced by these instruments
was deafening and monotonous. They
continued pounding steadily for perhaps
twenty minutes with no result, when all at
once a young man rushed into the centre
of the circle with scream and commenced
to dance and gesticulate wildly. He was
Immediately seized by the attendants, who
divested him of his outer garments and Or
namenta, He then, with vacant, staring
expression, began to dance wildly before
the tall candle. 1t could hardly be called
dance, as his feet were stationary.
He simply threw his head and body
backward and forward, all his muscles being
completely relaxed, his head almost touch
ing the flame Of the candle as it swung
forward. His face soon became red and
he began to froth at the mouth He was
soon Joined by two others An attendant
kept them in line, not allowing them to get
too near the candle, and occasionally joining
their hands Soon a wild-looking, emaci.
ated old man sprang into the centre Of the
circle with a scream. After he had been
aiyested Of his outer garments he did not
dance, but commenced pointing, with wild
screams, at different persons in the room.
He then placed his heel in the centre of the
burning charcoal until the smoke and the
odor of burning flesh filled the room. This
performance was rendered more effective
by his continual screams and by the un-
earthly noise of the tambourines. He
then withdrew his foot, and, red-hot
shovel having been handed to him, he rap
idly struck it with his open hand and then
drew his finger slowly across it, producing,
probably, slight blister. A heavy, sharp
pointed instrument was then handed to
him, which the old man placed against his
abdomen, and proceeded to pound against
the other end with heavy brick, which he
broke into several fragments. He then,
with apparently great effort, pretended to
withdraw it, but as its withdrawal was not
followed by blood, and as he Immediately
covered up the spot with his clothing, we
concluded that the instrument had not
penetrated the flesh at ALL He then kissed
the priest and ran into an adjoining apart
ment, where he placed his foot in water,
and afterwards resumed his seat with the
others,
Meanwhile the three dancers, who had
continued bobbing wildly up and down, had
fallen to the floor in an exhausted condition,
and had been assisted out of the room by
the attendants. The performers, though
some were wild and emaciated in appear
ance, did not show scars, and, though those
whose heads were not shaved showed irreg-
ulaF losses of hair, as though it might have
been pulled out, still they all appeared to
be in fair physical condition. At this time
there was temporary lull in the proceed
ings. The tambourines continued to beat
monotonously, and the habitues of the
place were evidently awaiting some new
development.
An Arab who sat near me spoke to me
in French, saying: "Watch that old man;
he is the best performer of the party. y
The man in question was fne-looking old
Arab, richly dressed, wearing spectacles,
who was stroking his long gray beard and
smiling serenely. Near him was another
old man, watching the proceedings The
chief evidently did everything in his power
to excite him. At stated intervals the
musicians would beat the tambourines fast
and furiously At such times the old man
would sway backward and forward, and
look wildly about, muttering to himself.
He even, at one time, unbuttoned his outer
garments, evidently preparing for his ap-
preaching fit. He would then subside
again, and finally buttoned up his coat, and
did not perform during the evening.
Soon, however, the old man, without
warning, suddenly fell forward into the
circle. He was raised by the attendants,
who, as in the previous cases, took off his
watch and outer garments.
He then commenced to repeat in loud
voice various Arabic sentences. A tam
hourine was then passed about the audience
containing perhaps ten stones varying in
size from one fourth to three-fourths of an
inch in diameter, and rusty nail. One
of these stones was then passed to the old
man, who, holding it between his thumb
and forefnger, placed it in his mouth and
swallowed it. He then swallowed all the
stones, finishing with the rusty nail. There
was no opportunity for deception, as his
arms were bare, and he invariably opened
his mouth, showing the stone, and after
wards opening his mouth to show that it
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