The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1894-05-04
CAIRO DERVISHES.
hiEIR HOWLING AND WHIRLING ON
THE BANKS OF THE NILE.

Performance of Which Much Has Been
Written Described by an Eyewitness-An
Entertainment Which Put the Boston
Chaplain to Thinking.
Cairo has an entertainment every Fri
day afternoon which draws we'll 1t is
the function of the bowling and whirl-
ing dervishes in the mosque of Kasr-el-
Ain, ON the road to old Cairo, near the
bank of the Nile. There were formerly
two entertainments, one of the howlers,
the other OF the whirlers. / do not know
how they happened to be united. 1 sup
pose it came from the tendency toward
consolidation and combination so preva-
lent in these times. 1t is much more
convenient now. In the former times
tourists were obliged to hurry from one
to the other, as they both came off at
the same hour. Now they can go leisure
ly after an early lunch. We assembled
with 100 or 200 of our fellow travellers
at the appointed hour, or rather some
time before, in order to secure good
seats.
The performance is given in circu-
lar room crowned by a lofty dome.
Chairs are supplied for a moderate sti-
pend. On the occasion when we assisted
there were about 80 performers The
leader of the troop was very respect
able looking man. He sat in the place
of honor on one side of the room. The
others formed a semicircle in front of
him. The exercise began with a short
invocation and devOut obeisances. At
first the dervishes kneeled ON mats. The
leader opened with brief chant, and
the others responded vigorously, duck
ing their heads to the floor. Then be-
nevOlent looking senior member struck
up song which had something of the
effect of pig under a gate. This seem
ed to be stimulating, for all the others
rose and began rhythmic bowling, keep
ing time by moving their heads forward
and backward, with occasional varia-
tions to the right and left.
The bowling was varied by snort
ing chorus, which, with practice, be-
comes very effective. This was followed
by deep and loud breathing, the heads
all the time wagging in the most vigOr-
Gus manner. The accompanying music
at first was only fe.e and a small
drum, but as they WSmed up larger
drums and cymbals were brought in,
and the more violent action was accent
ed by a tremendous din. About half the
dervishes had long hair, and the move
ment of their heads was sufficient tC
throw it forward and backward at every
stroke. This was a real addition to the
effect. After they got well at work one
of them glided into the center Of the Cir
Gle and began to whirl, keeping time tc
the music and the bowling, which kept
going faster and faster
Now and then the leader would make
signal to stop. Some of the performers
seemed unable to do this promptly, but
kept on swaying and bowling until they
were run down. Only one of them fell
in swOOn, and he seemed to be in a
fair way to recover when we left. This
was slight disappointment. Some days
there are more events of this nature,
which always increase the pleasure OF
the audience. l am almost inclined tO
fear that the "show" element has been
allowed to creep into this performance,
though it appears to be carried on III
dead earnest. There is no fee for admis-
sion, but every visitor is expected tc
drop something into the ''plate" as he
goes out, besides paying for his chair.
The performers at first struck me as a
"job lot" Of loafers picked up in the
street for the purpose, but was assured
by one who ought to know that they
were real dervishes, well practiced III
their business. Certainly no company
without a good deal of practice could GO
through what they did without great
er list of casualties. did not see any
indication on single face that there
was anything amusing about it. AS this
was a religious function, the chaplain
naturally took the right of the line.
saw that he was intensely interested and
presumed that he was looking for a
deeper meaning underlying the strange
spectacle IT seems that he was consid-
ering the possibility of introducing
something of this nature to give warmth
and color to the religious services in the
churches of Boston, which are too apt tC
be coldly decorous, especially under the
chilling influences of the Back Bay.
Two carefully selected and well or
ganized troops, one of whirlers and
the other of howlers, would add real
life and interest to any one of ou1
churches where the members of the con-
gregation are now apt to be sleepy. Any
thing in reason, the chaplain says, tc
get people out of their ruts Of self com,
placency. 1 can scarcely ven lUre to ex-
press an opinion here as to the spiritual
effect, but feel sure that congrega.
tion, drowsy with overfeeding on baked
beans and brown bread, would be made
wide awake by joining moderately III
exercises like those exhibited to US by
the whirlers and howlers of Cairo
Cor. Boston Herald.