Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-10-16
WHIRLING DERyISHEs.
oEvoTEEs WHO SEEK sALyA1,or
BY SPINNING LIKE TOPS.

s'A"t'n"pie Correspondent Descrsbes
Some Remarkable Ceremon,a,.-,,o
ING Low to the Name of the pro,h.t.
snort Seasons Of Prayer--sad Faces.
but 70 return to the dervish chapel which
was describing. A deep gallery runs around
SIX sides OF the large room. On the side newt ,
Mecca, where the high priest sits. d 4 small
out lofty pulpit, reached by a narrow fIight
OF steps. Besides this you observe a portion
OF the gallery is partitioned OF and highly
ornamented This, with the screen Of piIded
iattice next It, Is reserved for tbs Sultan aud
ms narein- From the lofty pulpit a sermon
- delivered on some special holy DAYS. but at
such times all "Ghiours' are excluded. IN
deed, there Is little provision made for their
comfort at any time. The space ret apart
Ior spectators Ia separated from that occu-
pea py the brethren by low railing, and Il
na motley gathering that fills this space.
| me center Of Tn, floor is sacred to the
| Dretnern, and is worn 30 smooth by the. fric-
uon Oh their bare feet that you would think
mad been polished and waxed. There is a
| narrow strip OF mating next the rail. on
| when tne 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 Inc prophet in large letters of gold
On DARK green ground The high priests
seat IL simply crimson rug, where he sits
cross legged, wrapped in loose green CLOAK
with wide flowing sleeves. The musicians
are stationed in tie gallery directly opposite
the high priest
1t is an impressive sight when the deryisbes
enter slowly, in single file, the little gate Of
the Enclosure, with their long light brown
cloaks wrapped about them, concealing thar
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 reyer-
emily KISS the ground; then, with both hands
folded across the breast, seem lost in PRAYER
their bodies constantly swaying 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
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 agaii bursts forth
with an energy that appears utmost 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-first on the side by
which they approach, then on the side OPP
posite-w which they manage to accomplish
very gracefully without once turning their
backs upon the sacred name by slowly re-
volying upon the right foot.
The procession is closed by a 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 ''whirling"
dervishes. 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 side 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
stand almost at right angles with the body.
The spectacle utterly battles description. AL
though the space was somewhat circum-
scribed they never once interfered with each
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.
If 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
notion with one hand held upward 10 re
ceive the expected blessings, the other ex
tended downward to scatter them abroad
Finally they resumed their seats on the STRIP
l of mating, bathed in perspiration, when ont
: of the brethren who had seemed simply &
spectator, covered each with his mantle
Q Then dervish whose seat was at the left o.
D the high priests delivered a long prayer, il
a a solemn but rapid manner, the last word o
each section being greatly prolonged Thi
PRAYER was for the great ones of their order
the ,lervishes bowling reverently as each holl
q name was uttered When at length the nam
, of the prophet occurred they PROSTATE,
themselves on the ground While they wer
thus PROSTATE the chief priest rose to hi
n knees, delivered short prayer, then took hi
n stand upon the crimson rug The priests ap
preaching him slowly, one by one took hi
hand, and pressed it to their lips and fore
head. The first that advanced statione
+. himself at the right of the priest, the secon
!. in the same manner saluted the priest an
:. his brother-each in turn performed the sam
ceremony until all had received the kiss G
l. peace.
!, As no seats are allowed we stood fully a
hour and a half, every moment expecting t
see some exhibition of religious ecstasy, bu
saw nothing of the kind All the dervishe
l, looked weary and sad and all were yer
thin except an African, whose extra avoirdI
nois together with the violent exercise, 500
a brought him to a "melting mood" and
" retired to his seat looking but little like on
- inspired with serapbic visions Anotht
priest who claimed our notice was bear
less youth with features cast in SO dehca
a moli that YOU would have turned an
lie looked again and again before fully col
rs WINGED it was not young girl in DISCUS
Another, a slender boy of about III year
was remarked by us all because OF the lot
y of deep anxiety on his young face, but b
rar;d motion seemed to fatigue him less this
his elders.
Soon the salutatons were all over and u
chanel was deserted. the whole OF the co
pregation dispensing without word, as so'
&c they could reclaim shoes and umbrellas
gu tha ri A. letyaru