56 CONSTANTINOPLE. 
and so hearty, that we sympathetically joined 
in their mirth. Upon this, our Janissary and 
Interpreter became alarmed, and desired us to 
use more caution ; as the laughter we noticed 
was the result of religious emotion, arising 
from the delight experienced in pronouncing 
the attributes of the Deity. During a full hour 
the Dervishes continued laughing and repeating 
the same words, inclining their heads and 
bodies backwards and forwards. They then 
all rose, and were joined by others, who 
were to act a very conspicuous part in the 
ceremony. These were some time in placing 
themselves ; and frequently, after they had 
taken a station, they changed their post again, 
for purposes to us unknown. Finally, they all 
stood in a semicircle before the Superior, and 
then a dance began : this, without any motion 
of the feet or hands, consisted of moving in a 
mass from side to side, against each other's 
shoulders, repeating rapidly and continually the 
words Ullah, hoo Ullah! and laughing as before, 
but no longer with any expression of mirth; 
it seemed rather the horrid and intimidating 
grimace of madness. In the mean time, the 
Superior moved slowly forward, until he stood in 
the midst of them, repeating the same words, and 
marking the measure of utterance, by beating 
his haofis, accompanied with a motion of his 
