The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-06
VISITING DERVISHES HOWL.
AND no OTHER THINGS MUCH LESS
Plea SAINT TO LOOK UPON

Oncr to the Publtc-Glsss Bottle Eating
aud Other Forms of seif.Torturc.
Tho twenty-thrce bowling and tho seven
whirling dervishcs that arrived in this city on
last Monday from Cairo. publicly praised Allah
in tho Madison Square Garden yesterday af-
teraoon for their safe arrival. 1t was the Mo-
hammedan Sabbath. and the howlers and
whirlers also performed the usual religious
ceremonies OF that day.
Sheik Abo- -Fattah had the sect Kadris.
who arc the homeless. and the sect Mevelevis.
who are the howlers. mark out a semi circular
space on the Madison avenue side OF the Gar
den. about twenty feet in diameter aud enclose
1t with sheepskins. Tho space 80 enclosed
was carefully washed, for no Mohammedan
ever invokes Allah on uncean ground.
Then tho Sheik dropped his red shoes outside
OF the sheepskins. and. stepping into the en-
closed space. blessed every separate foot OF 1t.
This done he turned his face to the east. and
with two hands held out tho palms upward.
made silent prayer. Then he knelt and
prayed. and then he touched his forehead to
the floor and prayed again.
In the mean time about 100 persons who
had boon invited to witness the ceremonies
had beon struggling in large number OF
them were theatrical people. whose object in
coming was to be amused and to see IL there
was any money to be made In exhibiting
curiosties. Among those present were David
Haven. Thomas Q. Seabrooke. Walter Collyer.
Maurice barrymore. William Hoey. Leon
Mayer. Edward Rice. Gus Kerker. Wemys
Henderson. and s. Goodfriend. There were
also several ladies present friends OF Z. NJ.
Malluk. the manager Of tho dervishes.
Shortly after 3 o'clock the Sheik In drab
gown that hung from his shoulders to his
ankles. bound with a sash at the waist, and
with a turban OF vivid green. the Khedive's
favorite color. Frustrated himself on the Sheep
skins nearest to the east, and. with his arms
outstretched. remained motionless for several
minutes.
He lay between two Immense green flags. on
which were wrought in gold man, religious
devices. Shortly the Sheik stood up and,
crossing his hands upon his breast. bowed
repeatedly toward the east. Then the other
howers gathered. They came from the east
end OF the hall in gowns of blue and brown
and yellow.
Tho colors meant nothing in particular.
but tho turbans denoted their rank in the
sect. The green denoted the highest stand
ing; next to the Sheik; the yellow came next.
| and then came the red. and last was the pure
white. worn by the young men.
the green iiass. and then came tho wklrlcrs;
with long gowns covering their rope; weighted
wh ns w s Birth 1 Of hS snsk and
for several minutes remained motionless.
Inc linen IA, bowler no marched soemnly up with an
| shaped Ikea boat These were placed by the
m9dies to and iro and mourning dismaliy.
Then they as suddenly became silent. and;
!5"f tie n "n ns THESE nrs asyo
ti" , exercises Of the hands and arms an
IN Voice. and SotS t the ra
ami the whirlers swayed to and fro with their
s epts hs ths
answer. Asmu Allah laden GHis nam name SIS is
ns Ss.asa al thsn S%.4 sl
'"S SS n%n r e
iGi"ssinei and The movn. Eodies grew still
Three Of the howlers played the Dyezaierle"
the s ana sr IS hsy ON Tssd chnhs
Tor several minutes. Allah al Allah God is
Tho Sheik stood ur and stretched forth his
hands. The howers were silent. lie marched
around the holy space, AS he advanced he
Then he bowed. and the howlcrs bent their
bodies, Ine Eroanlng Jet IN steadily and rose
4 dozen Of lilo howlers tore their turbans
from their heads. and their long black hair
They hopped on their knees and shook their
bodies like men in mortal agony. Up and
the dark headed ones ,hyinG to and fro:
green Nass and picked up with tenderness
coarse Tag; Instantly the howlers became
sns@y toxd wh and So anss
twitchlng. The ohelk drew from the bag
nyounG boa copstre tor mere than three feet
carefully placed it about his neck. The folds
Of the snake we're seen to tighten an, and tie
and 1t seemed that the snake was stranglinR
hm suddenly he NJ pnTou Fond The "a coils and
p'T'fh 1 i interest Of tho howiers had increased.
ANcry dusky face was thrust eagerly forward
s sn The sheiR glanced eoverty around
and then nodded to Houseyn. the most eager
Of he howlers
front Of thc shciE. stretched out Ills hands.
The sl,,Gik placed re z. s., serpent IN them. and
w rR serpent serpent cutchSd in his 'h hands The
] Es'' 5 pS1sa the
M" "HiS crouchsd and doubled themselves up on on
Thsa Ike sava BIT doe piece
l!rl" lou frenzy, they eroanod' and screamed
forward and Selling the snake. tried to tear it
''T Tie inter fought sayagely to retain it, and
then l'nGoG + fat howet, ran int the circle
ana Scl|el mo SNAKE. 700. Bnuonl ana tho
Slick each bit or a, piece Then Ylouseyn
biz of another piece, and the three
other, shoulders and whirled around
with tho snake hanging from the Sheik's neck.
All the hOwlcrs yelled furiously and bumped
their torcneads. on tho floor. Badoni was too
back to his sheepskin. where lie sank ex-
haustcd.
Then All Flassan; a bearded bowler. received
from tho .Sheik the, mace. an Instrument OF
torture. with slobulnr. weight on ono end
md n foot of steel with n q N m Mt nj a
other. All i4hbcd the point In hi right check
and thou in his left check.
Then he thrust 1t in his scalp and in his
neck while he danced around. His fellow
GhSSSd hm 9 WHIT with fr1nte
torturins. himself u consumptive- looking
howlor with 9 beard alto a glass bottle in II
matte fact way
Then tho whlrlers dotted their gowns. and
stepping into the circle in their bare feet.
went around and around while the musicians
beat AMI blew n weird tune out Of their instru-
ments. The boss whirler. or second priest,
Watched them carefully. and when he
| n OH ed them. This was aOmatfm l.