OF CONSTANTINOPLE. 241 



not be surprised at any unusual manner in which 

 fanaticism may shew itself. I am, however, with 

 respect to the dancing dervishes, uncharitable 

 enough not even to give them credit for sincerity. 

 I have a notion, and I do not rightly know what 

 good grounds there are for my having indulged in 

 such an idea, but I cannot help thinking that 

 they are impostors, and go through what they do 

 merely for the sake of filthy lucre. I hope I am 

 wTong ; but it is a remarkable circumstance, that 

 the spirit moves them to perform these extraordi- 

 nary an ticks on stated days in the week ; that 

 the exhibition is an open one, and a sort of lounge ; 

 and that good care is taken to ask the spectators 

 for money. It is the rule, that all persons should 

 take off their shoes on entering ; but we escaped 

 this trouble, by making a servant carefully wipe 

 them, with which the door-keeper appeared quite 

 satisfied. 



We entered an octagonal building, round which, 

 parallel to its faces, runs in the inside, and about 

 eight feet from its walls, a railing, which thus 

 encloses a regular octagonal space in the centre. 

 This enclosed part is boarded and kept beauti- 

 fully dry-rubbed. Several of our party longed to 

 M 



