950 THE GHOST-DANCE RELIGION bth u.n.14 



to be added, that these prayers were in conformance with Islamism, and were offered 

 up to Allah, whom lie adored, and to whose supreme will he attributes his powers. 

 He constantly performed the Zikr .Tehree, or "audibly called God's name," and the 

 frequent repetition of this practice fitted him for such holy purposes. Sometimes 



he would affect the mind of the individual upon wh he exercised his powers in 



such a manner as to throw him into a species of trance, after which he could remem- 

 ber nothing that he had previously known, and continued in this state until the 

 sheikh chose to restore him to the enjoyment of his ordinary faculties. Notwith- 

 standing all of these eminent powers, this great sheikh is reputed to have spent the 

 latter days of his life at Herat in extreme indigence, much slighted and neglected 

 by those who had so admired him while in the vigor of his career. All tear of his 

 mystical influences seems to have disappeared, and it is narrated thai these greatly 

 declined with his ordinary strength of mind and body. (Pages 137-139.) 

 » * * * * 



Dervish DANCE. — The exercises which are followed in these halls are of various 

 kinds, according to the rules of each institution: but in nearly all they com- 

 mence by the recital, by the sheikh, of the seven mysterious words of which we 

 have spoken. He next chants various passages of the Koran, and at each pause, the 

 Dervishes, placed in a circle round the hall, respond in chorus by the word "Allah ! " 

 or " Hon ' " In some of the societies they sit on their heels, the elbows close to those 

 of each other, and all making simultaneously light movements of the head and the 

 body. In others, the movement consists in balancing themselves slowly, from the 

 right to the left, and from the left to the right, or inclining the body methodically 

 forward and aft. There are other societies in which these motions commence seated, 

 in measured cadences, with a staid countenance, the eyes closed or fixed upon the 

 ground, and are continued on foot. These singular exercises are concentrated under 

 the name of Murakebeh (exaltation of the Divine glory), and also under that of the 

 Tevheed (celebration of the Divine unity), from which comes the name Tevheed 

 Khaneh, given to the whole of the halls devoted to these religious exercises. 



In some of these institutions — such as the Kadirees, the Rufa'ees, the K halwettees, 

 the Bairamees, the Gulshenees, and the Ushakees — the exercises are made each bedd- 

 ing the other by the hand, putting forward always the right foot and increasing at 



every step the strength of th vement of the body. This is called the Devr, 



which may be translated the " dance " or " rotation.'' The duration of these dances 

 18 arbitrary — each one is free to leave when he pleases. Everyone, however, makes 

 it a point to remain as long as possible. The .strongest and most robust id' the num- 

 ber, and the most enthusiastic, strive to persevere longer than the others; they 

 uncover their heads, take off their turbans, form a second circle within the other, 

 entwine their arms within those of their brethren, lean their shoulders against each 

 other, gradually raise the voice, and without ceasing repeat " Ya Allah!" or "Ya 

 lloo'" increasing each time the movement of the body, and not stopping until their 

 entire strength is exhausted. 



Those of 11 dor of the Rufii ees excel in these exercises. They arc, moreover, 



the only ones who use fire in then devotions. Their practices embrace nearly all 

 those of the other orders; they are ordinarily divided into five different scenes, which 

 last more than three hours, and which are preceded, accompanied, and followed In 

 certain ceremonies peculiar to this order. The first commences with praises which 

 all the Dervishes offer to their sheikhs, seated before the altar. Four of the more 

 a ii eicnt come forward the first . ami approach their superior, embrace each other as 

 if to give the kiss of peace, and next place themselves two to his right and two to 

 his left. The remainder of the Dervishes, in a body, press forward in a procession, 

 all having their arms crossed and their heads inclined. Each one, at first, salutes 

 h\ a pro fin i nd bow the tablet on which the name of his founder is inscribed. After- 

 wards, putting his two hands over his lace and his heard, he kneels lie Ion- I he sheikh, 

 hisses his hand respectfully, and then they all go on with a grave step to take thru 



places on the sheepskins, which are spr I in a hall' circle around the interior of the 



hall. So soon as a circle is formed, tlic I ici vislics together chant the Tekheer and 



