Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-03-19
ROWLING DERvlSHES.
IN. story of an Afternoons Experience
in the City Of ConstsntlnopIe.

We had spent the morning at Scu-
.ari where had been painting an old
-Tosoue. 1t was howling-dervish dav
il comes but once a week, the howl
herinning AT 3 p. M. precisely -and to
satisfy Isaac | had left the sunshine
Tor m hour to watch their curious SER
vice.
Thus it was that Dreco Yapouly
Isaacs preceded me up steep hill
paved with powders, entered the low
door OF the tekSe (house) of the der
wishes and motioned me to seat in
= small open court sheltered by an ar
Dor covered with vines.
Five francs. and we passed the hang
ing curtain covering the entrance, and
stepped inside square. low-ceiled
room hung With tambourines, cvmbals,
arms aud banners. and surrounded on
three sides by an isle.
The howlers-there were at least
dozen-were standing in straight
row on the floor, like class at school.
facing their master. an old, long
bearded priest squatting on mat
stretched before the low alcove altar.
As we entered, they were wagging
their heads in unison, keeping time to
n chant monotoned by the old priest.
They were of all ages; fat and lean,
smooth-shayen and bearded, some in
rich garments others in more sombre
and cheaper stutfs.
One face cut itself into my memory
that of a handsome, clear-skinned
young man, with deep, intense eyes
that fairly hamed and sinewy,
graceful body. On one OF his delicate
lady-vhite hands was large turquoise
ring Yapouly VIII ispered to me that
he was the son of the high priest, and
would succeed his father when the old
man died.
The chant continued, rising in vol
ume aud intensity, and Nubian in
white handed each man black skull
cap. These they drew tightly over
their perspiring heads.
The movement which had begun
with the slow rolling of their heads,
now extended to their bodies. They
writhed and twisted as if in agony,
like row of black-capped falons
standing on an invisible gailows
swinging IRON unseen ropes
Suddenly there darted out upon the
mats boy scarce ten years of age,
spinning like a top in front of the
priest, his skirts level with his hands
The chant now broke into a wall
the audience joining in. The bowls
were deafeuing. The twelve were
rocking their heads in wild frenzy,
grooming in long subdued means, end
ing in a peculiar 'hough," like the
sound of dozen distant locomotives
Juggling up steep grade.
allah, hou! Allah houi Allah,
hau!'-the last word expelled with a
jerk.
A dozen little children were now
handed over the rail to the Nubian,
who took them in his arms and laid
them in row, their faces hattened to
the mats. The old priest advanced
within a step of the first child, his lips
moving in prayer.
Iapouly Isaac leaned over and
whispered: See! now he will bless
Them
| raised myself on my feet to see the
better. The old priest balanced him
self for moment, stepped firmly upon
the first child, his bare feet sinking
into its soft, yielding flesh, and then
walked deliberately across the line of
PROSTATE children. AS he passed, each |
little tot raised its head waited until |
the last child had been trampled; then
sprang up, kissed the old priests robe,
and ran laughing from the room.
The delyishes were now in the last |
stages OF exhausted frenzy. The once
handsome young priest was ghastly, |
frothlng at the mouth. only the white |
of his eyes visible his voice thick, his !
breath almost gone. The others were
dropping, with knees bent hardly able |
to stand
Suddenly the priest turned his back,
Frustrated himself before the altar
and prayed silently the whirling |
child who for half an hour had not |
stopped sank TO the floor. The line |
of deryishes grew still, one by one tot
tered along the floor, clutched at the |
hanging curtain, and passed into the
sualight
l forced nv way along tho closely |
packed aisle. and rushed into the open |
air, impelled bv wild desire to rem
der some assistance. The sight that |
met my eve staggered me. My breath
stopped short. In the midst of the
court stood the Nubian serving coffee,
the howle~ crowding about him, clam
oriug for cups, and painting Tor breath
like team of athletes in from foot
race. | looked for my young priest
with the turquoise ring. He was sit
ting on a bench, rolling cigarette
his face wreathed with smilesl-F |
H5Pktnson Snltth, in Harper'S MagG-
cine