CONSTANTINOPLE. 59 
began to lick them with their tongues. While 
we were occupied in beholding this extra- 
ordinary sight, our attention was suddenly 
called off to one of the performers, who was 
stamping in a distant part of the mosque, with 
one of the irons between his teeth. This 
was snatched from him by the Superior; 
and the man falling into apparent convul- 
sions, was caught by an attendant, and 
placed upon the floor, with his face to the 
earth. Some of the rest then jumped about* 
stabbing themselves in different parts of their 
bodies. 
A noise of loud sobbing and of lamentation 
was now heard in a latticed gallery above, 
where some women were stationed, who being 
completely duped by the artifices which had 
been practised, became sufficiently alarmed. 
As we were already disgusted with such 
outrages upon religion, under any name, we 
descended from the gallery, and prepared to 
walk out; when the Superior, fearing that 
his company might give him the slip, in- 
stantly put an end to the leger-de-main, and 
demanded payment. While this took place, 
it was highly amusing to see all i\\Qjire-eat€rs, 
and the dagger-hearers, recover at once from 
their fainting and convulsions, and walk about. 
