952 THE GHOST-DANCE RELIGION [eth.ann.U 



experience with apparent gaiety. If, however, some of them fall under their suffer- 

 ings, they throw themselves into the arms of their confreres, but without a complaint 

 or the least sign of pain. Some minutes after this, the sheikh walks round the hall, 

 visits each one of the performers in turn, breathes upon their wounds, rubs them 

 with saliva, recites prayers over them, and promises them speedy cures. It is said 

 thai twenty-four hours afterward nothing is to be seen of their wounds. (Pages 

 218-222. ) 



There was no regularity in their dancing, but each seemed to be performing the 

 antics of a madman; now moving his body up and down; the next moment turning 

 round, then using odd gesticulations with his arms, next jumping, and sometimes 

 screaming; in short, if a stranger observing them was not told that this was the 

 involuntary effect of enthusiastic excitement, he would certainly think that these 

 Durweeshes were merely striving to excel one another in playing the buffoon. 

 (Page 260.) 



The fit. — After this preface, the performers began the Zikr. Sitting in the man- 

 ner above described, they chanted, in slow measure, Ld iltilm ilia 'lldh (there is no 

 deity but God), to the following air : La i-lti hailla-lldh. Lit l-ld-ha-illa-l-ld-h. La 

 i-ld ha illa-l-ldh. Bowing the head twice on each repetition of " Ld ildha ilia 'lldh." 

 Thus they continued about a quarter of an hour, and then, for about the same space 

 of time, they repeated the same words to the same air, but in a quicker measure, 

 and with correspondingly quicker motion. 



They next rose, and, standing in the same order in which they had been sitting, 

 repeated the same words to another air. During this stage of their performance 

 they were joined by a tall, well-dressed, black slave, whoso appearance induced me 

 to inquire who he was. I was informed that he was a eunuch, belonging to the 

 basha. The Zikkeers, still standing, next repeated the same words in a very deep 

 and hoarse tone, laying the principal emphasis upon the word "La," and the first 

 syllable of the last word, Allah, and uttering, apparently with a considerable effort. 

 The sound much resembled that which is produced by beating therim of a tambour- 

 ine. Each Zikkeer turned his head alternately to the right and left at each repeti- 

 tion of "Ld ildha ilia, 'lldh." The eunuch above mentioned, during this part of the 

 Zikr, became what is termed melboos, or "possessed." Throwing his arms about, and 

 looking up witli a very wild expression of countenance, he exclaimed, in a very high 

 tone ami with great vehemence and rapidity. Allah '. Allah .' Allah .' Allah .' Allah .' la.' 

 In .' la ! la ! la ! In .' la ! la .' la .' la .' la .' In .' lah .' Yd ' amiiiir .' Yd ' ammo -! Yd 'ammee! Ash- 

 iiiaii'ii' YdAshmdwee! YdAshmdwee! [Yd'ammee signifies <>. my uncle!) His voice 

 gradually became taint, and when he had uttered those words, though he was held 

 bj a Durweesh who was next him, he fell on the, ground, foaming at the mouth, his 

 eyes closed, his limbs convulsed, and his fingers clenched over his thumbs. It was 

 an epileptic fit. No one could see it and believe it to be the effect of feigned 

 emotions; it was undoubtedly the result of a high state of religious excitement. 

 Nobody seemed surprised at it, for occurrences of this kind at Zikrs are not uncom- 

 mon. All the performers now appeared much excited, repeating their ejaculations 

 with greater rapidity, violently turning their heads, and sinking the whole body at 

 the same time, some of them jumping. The eunuch became melboos again several 

 times, and I generally remarked that his tits happened after one of the Moonshids 

 had sung a line or two, and exerted himself more than usually to excite his hearers. 

 The singing was, indeed, to my taste, very pleasing. Toward the close of the Zikr 

 a private soldier, who had joined through the whole performance, also seemed 

 several times to he melboos, growling in a horrible manner ami violently shaking 

 his head from side to side. The contrast presented by the vehement and distressing 

 exertions of the performers at the close of the Zikr, and their calm gravity and 

 solemnity of manner at the commencement, was particularly striking. Monej was 

 collected during the performance for the Moonshid. The Zikkeers receive no pay. 

 (Pages 252-255. i 



