244 DANCING DERVISHES. 



turning round on their own ground. In this 

 way, twenty or thirty fellows, without shoes or 

 stockings, waltzing on a well-glazed dark floor, 

 with an easy kind of step, at an inconceivable 

 rate, with their hands held out horizontally, their 

 large petticoats swinging with them in a waving 

 sort of manner from their extraordinary fulness 

 and immense weight, had exactly the appearance 

 of so many rotatory mushrooms. A more perfect 

 picture of misery cannot be conceived than a 

 dancing dervish. His head is on one side, his 

 eyes closed, and pain most visibly depicted on his 

 countenance. 



After these revolutions had continued for about 

 half an hour, we began to consider our curiosity 

 quite satisfied ; and, as it was evident they were 

 all suffering intensely, a feeling, partly of disgust 

 and partly of pity, induced us to take our depar- 

 ture. 



I must not forget to caution all of the fair sex, 

 whom curiosity may tempt to ramble as far east as 

 Constantinople, to beware of offending the eyes 

 of the true believers by wearing the sacred colour. 

 Every Moslem who can claim any connection 

 with the descendants of the prophet wears a 



