CONSTANTINOPLE 1 , 
>25 
trance two strange figures, who, learning the cause of our visit, 
asked if we wished to have the 6 Jire and dagger business in¬ 
troduced among the other performances. We replied, by ex¬ 
pressing our inclination to see as much of their rites as they 
might think proper to exhibit: upon this, we were told that 
we must pay something more than usual, for the miracles . A 
bargain was therefore made, upon condition that we should see 
all the miracles. We w ere then permitted to enter the mosque, 
and directed to place ourselves in a small gallery, raised two 
steps from the floor. Close to one extremity of this gallery, 
certain of the dervishes were employed in boiling coffee upon 
t wo braziers of lighted charcoal: this was brought to us tip 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, w ire scourges, pincers, and many other dread¬ 
ful instruments of torture and penance. It might have been 
supposed a chamber of inquisition, if the ludicrous mummery 
around had not rather given it the air of a conjurer’s booth. 
It w r as 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, apparently a se¬ 
cond-hand purchase from the rag market, opened the business 
of the exhibition. At first, they repeated the ordinary prayers 
of the Turks; in which our janissary joined, after having 
washed his head, feet, and hands. All strangers afterward 
withdrawing to the gallery, a most ragged and filthy set of der¬ 
vishes seated themselves upon the floor, forming a circle round 
their superior. 
These men began to repeat a series of w r ords, as if they were 
uttering sounds by rote ; smiling, at the same time, with great 
complacency upon each other: presently, their smiles w ere 
converted to a laugh, seemingly so unaffected 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 re* 
peating the attributes of the Deity. During a full hour the 
dervishes continued laughing and repeating the same words,, 
inclining their heads and bodies backward and forward.— 
Then they all rose, and w ere joined by others, who w ere to aci 
a very conspicuous part in the ceremony. These were so mg 
time in placing themselves; and frequently, after they had 
D 
