CCfNSTANTINOPLE. . 65 
brasiers of lighted charcoal : this was brought 
to us in small cups, with pipes, and stools for 
seats. At the other extremity of the gallery, 
a party of Turks were also smoking, and drink- 
ing coffee. Upon the walls of the mosque were 
suspended daggers, skewers, wire scourges, 
pincers, and many other dreadful instruments 
of torture and penance. It might have been 
supposed a chamber of the Inquisition, if the 
ludicrous mummery around had not rather given 
to it the air of a conjurer's booth. It was a 
long time before the ceremony began. At 
length, the principal Dervish, putting on his 
robe of state, which consisted of a greasy 
green pelisse with half-worn fur, opened the 
business of the exhibition. At first, they re- 
peated the ordinary prayers of the Turks; in 
which our Janissary joined, after having washed 
his head, feet, and hands. All strangers after- 
wards withdrawing to the gallery, a most ragged 
and filthy set of Dervishes seated themselves 
upon the floor, forming a circle round their 
Superior. 
These men began to repeat a series of words, 
as if they were uttering sounds by rote ; smil- 
ing, at the same time, with great complacency 
upon each other: presently, their smiles were 
converted to a laugh, seemingly so unaffected" 
E 2 
