Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-04-13
H0WLING DERVISHES
Some Strange Religious Rites
in Turkey.
A Three-Year.Old Child a Fren-
zied Participant.

A Constantiaop.c correspondent OF
the Slu Francisco Chronicle seIIs that
paper an account o.some ofthe religious
fit Of the Hcfaec, or the tlowling
! Derynhe'. These he say are lnt
one Of tho numerous orders yf Delyishcs
WHO wieid an irresi.ti le iHnucnc. over
the public mi d in Turscy. Their no
table Take j. a low, weather-beatcn Old
building, standing on tho Cd 70 Of the
great cypre s-sha!cl Turkish {, mctcry
that crowns the hei hts Of Ssntoric and
is almost as dilapilatcI as most Of the
monuments and gravestoaes That .ur-
round it. The sfacc allotted to tie
''howlers' was w,l-filltd, yet a goo.l
many both Of young and o'd were
still comiag, and after going
forward to where the high priest sat,
they revcrcnty bowed to Tie dust, then
taking the priests hand, geatiy kissed
it and retired Directly ehind the
| priest was a small a.coye, painted a
bright greon and filled with variety
OF antique small arms, swords, daggcrs
battle axes, etc. Ga the wills were
many notices or sentences in frames,
and some prayer rugs. A5mlll Lrazen
censor containing burning frankincouso
and spices, filed the room with aromatic
fragrance.
Around three sides Of the low room
were galleries, some closely latticcd and
occupied by Turkish women, others
open and filled with curious spectators
like ourselves. Tho best location vas
reserved for Turkish gentlemen and sol
diers. Beneath these galleries was still
another, elevated a step or two above
the main floor and separated from it by
low railing and furni,hed with seats
for spectators On the main floor were
spread many rugs OF Aneora goatskin,
on which were seated old men, regular
patriarchs in appearance, while two
groups Of little children were ran eed
behind them. Seated close to the low
railing were rows Of men clothed in the
flowing Deryish mantle and tan colored
''galuph, a tall, brimless felt hat
strongly resembliag an inverted flower
These ends were at intervals during the
service tenderly pressed to the lips. At
other times the eyes were carefully wiped
with these mourning badges.
Conspicuous before the hi ii priest
stood 1.-THE figure with pale, cadav9r
GUS countenance, lut keen, ponctrat-
ing eye, who was slowly manipulating a
long, white scarf. lie first threw it
around his shoulders, thus symbolizng
the all embracing love Of Allah; then
binding it tightly about his waist, he
began tying and untying it, each knot
having a particular significance. His
whispered words will bear this inter
probation; q tie up greed; l unite
charity. l tie up hate; I unite love.
tic up pride; unite humility" And
so on through long list. Thn began
a monotonous chant that socn swelled
to tremendous howl. All rose to
their feet and kept time with swaying
body and jerking head in frantic
manner. The old and feeble
among them gradually dropped out
OF the circle and took seats on
rt9s near the centre Of the
room, besides the rows Of standing
children At length the eyes OF the
spectators became riylted upon the
lace ana h6ure oi 3-year-old oapy'
VINO sto1d lof Two ioaS houFs s"ayiaS
lts iran Doay = P'r.ect anl'on "l1l 'Ao
deryishes ana with ms rosy eheFuo-
mouth u'terlng the same lnd1s II2aity
impressive cry OF \ iah' Nhin the
Iude taFohS haa at len 5th worked ll'c'h
SetVo' up 20 a 81 = Of re35ioa' frenzy
the l'tIe boy also roltel MS hrl8Et
eyes about as Il beAoIdla3 heavenly
Vlsloa'
To my mind nothing was so impress
siye as the power 4 endura &c showl
by the infants on exhibition. lshul,
der when | think q the torture they
must hay' been sn .ctcd to u the pr
vatc dFi,l necessary to prepare them ior
such per 'ormaaco in public. Some Of
the children seemed Tree to pass in and
out At will, lut the tiny boy spoken Of
above and Ii,tIo 81 ! q hnaeh5aeA)
never lett their posts minute, nor
ceased to sway their bodies and shout
until the performance was coac.u led,
by q louder clanpiag and how.ia' moro
violent jerking Of tn. head and wider
tumult than before Then a sudden
hush. whcn, without signal Or look
from any one, this lovely lite baby de-