242 DANCING DERVISHES 



waltz upon it. The spectators occupied the space 

 between the raiHng and the walls of the building, 

 which was well matted, on which we, in com- 

 pany with a motley group of Turks and all kinds 

 of persons, sat cross-legged, or lounged, or stood, 

 as we felt disposed. Opposite the door by which 

 we entered was a sort of altar, in the style of an 

 ordinary mosque, very plain, with inscriptions 

 from the Koran in several parts of it. Over the 

 door itself was a small gallery, where the singers 

 and music were stationed ; another for the sultan 

 when he visits the place, and on either side of 

 these, latticed galleries for the female part of the 

 community. 



After waiting for some time, so long, indeed, 

 that we began to think that we should not see 

 them dance after all our trouble, a number of 

 curious-looking fellows, dressed in long dark 

 cloaks and large white conical hats, made their 

 appearance ; they were all very miserable-looking, 

 some quite boys, and some older ; the oldest of all, 

 who appeared to be the chief, wore a green tur- 

 ban. He acted as leader in all the ceremonies 

 and prostrations which followed, but did not 

 dance; perhaps he had grown older and wiser. 



