The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-09-08
WHAT A DERyIsH is.
He Is a Religious Chief Among Ignorant
MOhammedans.

He Is a Religious Chief Among Ignorant
MOhammedans.
Dervish is Persian word and its de-
rivation, or rather composition, is still the
object of controversy. Some say that is
derived from deT-UiS-namely, one who
lies at the door:--while others believe
that it is corruption from der-pish or
der-btsh-namely, one who is in advance,
head, a chieftain; and considering that
the dervish is looked upon as spiritual
chief in the eyes of the lower classes of
the Moslem world, consider this latter
derivation more probable, and conse-
quently adhere to it, Dervishes or men,
bers of a sacred brotherhood, have always
enjoyed great consideration in the eyes of
the lower classes in the East; and although
not acknowledged by orthodoxy, they
have been at all times the leaders of the
masses, by whom they are blindly fol-
lowed and venerated
AS is generally known, all monkish and
religious orders are contrary to the spirit
of the Koran, and are even expressly pro-
hibited by Islam. But, in spite of all this,
they sprang upvery early in Persia, and
having spread from the last-named coun-
try to the rest of the Mahommedan world
the Persian word has been generally
adopted, and is now current from Komul,
in Chinese Turkestan, to Morocco OF
course, the lower the level of civilization
the higher is the consideration enjoyed
by the dervishes; and remembering my
own influential position among Uzbegs,
Kirghizes and Turkomans, can fully re-
alize the weight and the power the der
wishes must have with the uncivilized ma
g fk.fn - ~.
dervishes in Africa. do not know pre-
cisely whether they belong to the order
of Kadri or Djelali; but l know that they
are headed by descendant of the fam
Gus Sheikh Senoussi, whose seat is, or
was, at Kairquan in the desert, the great
est hotbed of Moslem fanaticism all over
the world, and, l may add, at the same
time the stronghold of Moslem propa-
ganda In the Dark Continent.
From the little we know about the re-
ligious movements in the northern half
of Africa, it is pretty clear that the rise
and progress of the Mahdi, far from being
favored by the orthodox followers of Ma
hommed, was found, particularly objec-
tionable by the adherents of Sheikh
Senoussi who from the beginning, were
inimical to what they called the false
prophet, and no sooner were his fortunes
declining than they took arms against
him, and. inheriting his position in the
SOuuan, tney very naturally continue the
work begun by the Mahdi-namely, the
attack upon the Egyptians and upon the
British, two nations which are identical
in their eyes.
/ will not venture to discuss the details
OF the present situation in the Soudan;
but, despite my ignorance in rebus dirt
cafats, am sorry to say my impression is
that the dervishes will be a tougher NOR
sci for the British army than the follow
ers of the Mahdi; and that, in spite of the
occasional losses which might be inflicted
upon them, their entire defeat or total
suppression will cost immense sacrifices
in blood and money, and will take good
deal of time. The Mahdi was ridiculed
by the Mahommedan world. But the fol-
lowers of Sheikh Senoussi--I mean these
''deryishes possess the sympathies of
their brethren in faith all over the world;
and If the Russian Government is seri-
oIsly bent upon fulfilling its duty
towards Egypt it should arrange matters
with the Sultan of Turkey, for it is only
the Khalif who is acknowledged as the
head Of Islam by Sheikh Senoussi. and to
him it would be an easy thing to arrest
the march of the dervishes and put stop
to the bloodshed in the Soudan.--St.