REV. G. E. WHITE, ON THE SHIA TURKS. 231 
assent to their conquerors’ faith, while cherishing in secret some 
of their ancestral rites. It is very generally affirmed that they 
secretly observe a debased form of the Lord’s Supper. Some Shias 
know and confess that their ancestors were of Christian faith, 
and certain names and idioms of speech furnish indubitable 
confirmatory evidence thereto. But Christian blood flows in 
the veins of many Turks, and personally, I am not convinced 
that the ceremony of eating and drinking, which is undoubtedly 
a part of their worship, is one in origin with the Supper 
instituted by our Lord. The Shia priests are a class of men 
called cledes, who dwell singly or in groups at shrines called 
tekyes. Each tekye has its own parish, which may consist of a 
considerable number of villages, and at some distance from the 
sacred centre. Once or twice a year, most regularly in the 
autumn, the dedes make a circuit of their parishes, and this is a 
great event for the villagers. Their most highly prized services 
are held on this occasion and with great secrecy. Guards are 
posted, sometimes in a triple line, around the village, around 
the house, and at the door of the building. The place of 
meeting is a common house ; the time, always after nightfall. 
Eyewitnesses and participants in the worship say that a table 
is set with sacrificial or sacramental food and wine, of which 
the congregation partake. Then the de.de, preaches beautifully, 
inculcating the common virtues, teaching their peculiar observ- 
ances, and emphasizing the common bonds that link all the 
communities together. Prayers are offered, in which every 
person present is remembered, and even every article of furni- 
ture in the room has its share. For instance, one person 
brings forward the lamp, a prayer appropriate to it is offered, 
and then the attendant sets it back on its shelf. Then a 
religious dance takes place, the men and the mature women 
present going through some form of motion in time together. 
Such performances would naturally be viewed as scandalous, 
or at best as very suspicious, in the East, and these gatherings 
are roundly denounced as indecent by sober-minded citizens. 
On these tours the dedes gather up abundant religious dues from 
their people, for they are regarded with great veneration, and 
they rule their willing congregations as with a rod of iron. 
Peasant life in the Orient is rather sombre. Death is 
possible any day. An average of one sick person to every 
house of a village is not uncommon. Crop failure may bring 
famine any year ; delayed or scanty rains mean drought and 
hunger ; oppression by officials, a robber raid, war, accident, 
pestilence, disease among the cattle, may occur at any time 
Q 
