Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-04-10
WHIRLING DERVISlIES.
OEVoTEES WHO SEEK SALVATION
by SPINNING LIKE TOPS.

A ConstantInopie Correspondent Describes
some Remarkable Cercmoniais-BOw-
ing Low to the Name of the Prophet.
Short Seasons OF Prayer-ssd Faces.
But TO return to the dervish chapel which
was describing. A deep gallery runs around
six sides of the large room. On the side next
Mecca, where the high priest sits, is a small
but lofty pulpit, reached by narrow flight
| of steps. Besides this you observe portion
of the gallery is partitioned off and highly
ornamented This, with the screen of gilded
| lntticc next it, is reserved for the Sultan and
his hareln. From the lofty pulpit a sermon
| is delivered on some special holy days, but Mt
such times all "Ghiours" are excluded. In
deed, there is little provision made for their
comfort at any time. The space set apart
for spectators is separated from that occu-
pied by the brethren by low railing, and it
is motley gathering That fills this space.
| The center Of thu floor is sacred to the
| brethren, and is worn SO smooth by the fric
ton OF their bare foet that you would think
| it had been polished and waEed. There is a
narrow strip Of mating next the rail, on
which the brothers sit and kneel. Against
the pillars that support the galleries are hung
| frames containing passages from the Koran.
Above the seat of the chief priest is the
| name OF tho prophet in large letters of gold
| on dark green ground. The high priests
seat is simply crimson rug, where he sits
cross legged, wrapped in a loose green cloak
with wide flowing sleeves. The musicians
are stationed in the gallery directly opposite
the high priest
| 1t is an impressive sight when the dervishes
enter slowly, in single file, the little gate of
the inclosure, with their long light brown
cloaks wrapped about them, concealing their
hands. They first bow low to the name of
the prophet, then with step keeping time to
| the music from the gallery, which fills the
room with its low monotonous strains, they
take their places, bend forward and rever-
emily kiss the ground; then, with both hands
folded across the breast, seem lost in prayer,
| their bodies constantly swayng to and fro in
| time with the music. Now the high priest
| rises and delivers an audible prayer; the
Others remain motionless with hands still
| folded on the breast. At the close of the
prayer all bow their heads to the ground, and
| a weird, barbaric melody peals forth from
the gallery.
Instantly the brethren all join in the chorus
The effect is indescrible. Now the sound dies
away till it is but as the whisper of the winds
among the pines then it again bursts forth
with an energy that appears almost super
natural, followed by another stiffness Of
about minute for silent prayer. When the
low strains are again heard they all rise and
slowly follow the high priest three times
around the room. With arms still reverently
folded upon the breast they bow twice to the
name of the prophet-frst on the side by
which they approach, then on the side OPP
posite- which they manage to accomplish
very gracefully without ence turning their
backs upon the sacred name by slowly re-
volving upon the right foot.
The procession is closed by second pros
tration. When each has gained his place he
throws aside his cloak and begins the series
of remarkable evolutions which has given
them the name of dancing or "whirlingn
dervisheI. Meaningless as it all seems to us,
to them every rite has deep significance.
Their rapid rotary motion symbolizes the
motion of the universe, their low weird mu-
sic the music of the spheres.
Their dress consists of loose shirt Jacket
and full long skirt of light brown cloth. The
right sido Of the jacket is fastened to the
girdle, the left hangs loose. The skirt is laid
in deep plaits beneath the girdle. Their
rapid revolutions give these full garments a
bell shaped appearance, some of the most
expert among them making their skirts
stand almost at right angles with the body.
The spectacle utterly battles description. AL
though the space was somewhat circum-
others locomotion, but round and round
they spun, as if impelled by an unseen
power; their eyes half closed their heads
bent toward the right, their PALE thin, pas
sionless faces perfectly immobile, though
great beads OF perspiration were soon stand
ing on their brows.
II for any reason one of them made sud
den pause his garments wound about him in
a singular manner. Three times they all
paused for prayer, then resumed the rapid
motion, with one hand held upward to re-
ceive the expected blessings, the other ex-
tended downward to scatter them abroad
Finally they resumed their seats on the strip
of mating, bathed in perspiration, when one
of the brethren, who had seemed simply
spectator, covered each with his mantle
Then a dervsh whose seat was at the left of
the high priests delivered long prayer, in
a solemn but rapid manner the last word of
each section being greatly prolonged. This
prayer was for the great ones of theif order,
the dervishes bowling reverently as each holy
name was uttered When at length the name
of the prophet occurred they Frustrated |
themselves on the ground. While they were |
thus PROSTATE the chief priest rose to his |
knees, delivered a short prayer, then took his |
stand upon the crimson rug. The priests APP |
preaching him slowly, one by one took his |
hand, and pressed it to their lips and fore |
head The first that advanced stationed |
himself at the right of the priest, the second |
in the same manner saluted the priest and |
his brother--each in turn performed the same |
ceremony until all had received the kiss of |
peace.
AS no seats are allowed we stood fully an |
hour and u half, every moment expecting to /
see some exhibition of religious ecstasy, but |
saw nothing of the kind. All the dervishes |
looked weary and sad and all were very |
thin except an African, whose extra avoirdu-
pois, together with the violent exercise soon
brought him to melting mood" and he
retired to his seat looking but little like one
inspired with seraphic visions. Another
priest who claimed our notice was a beard
less youth with features cast in 50 delicate
a mold that you would have turned and
looked again and again before fully con-
WINGED it was not a young girl in disguise.
Another, slender boy of about 10 years,
was remarked by us all because of the look
of deep anxiety on his young face, but his
rapid motion seemed to fatigue him less than
his elders.
Soon the salutations were all over and the
chapel was deserted. the whole of the con-
gregation dispensing without word, as soon
as they could reclaim shoes and umbrellas Of
the porter at the door,. A. Ledyard in
San Francisco Chronicle.