MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 
153 
But enough of dogs. I am going to be terribly in earnest 
now, like Mr. Macready in Othello, and tell you about the 
dancing dervishes. Of the religious belief entertained by this 
singular sect I can give you no account. It is to their strange 
ceremonies that I wish to introduce you at present. Not far 
from the Hotel de Byzant is one of the temples or churches 
of the dancing dervishes; a low building without much 
ornament, situated back from the street in a court; and here 
once or twice a week strangers are permitted to witness the 
ceremonies. No entrance fee is required, and all sects are 
admitted without distinction of costume or nation ; subject 
only to rules of good order and the customary prohibition of 
boots and shoes beyond the door. It was on a day of more 
than ordinary importance that I had the fortune to witness 
this curious exhibition. We had formed a large party of 
Frank travelers at the hotel, and all went together. At the 
door we took off our shoes, and those who had slippers were 
allowed to wear them, and those who had none were permit¬ 
ted to stand in their stockings. A servant in attendance 
showed us into the quarter allotted to the Franks : there 
were other quarters occupied by a miscellaneous crowd of 
natives. The hall, or place of worship is a large circular 
room, with an arched roof hung around with lamps, and the 
galleries for the spectators extend all around on the same 
Door, with a railing in front and a foot-board, as in a circus. 
All the decorations were of the plainest and cheapest kind, 
and the hall itself was entirely without furniture, the floor being 
of polished wood, quite bare of carpets. When we entered, a 
din of wild barbarous music, from some invisible place, reached 
us, and soon the priests of the order entered, walking slowly 
two by two, preceded by the patriarch, an old man with a 
long white beard. They were enveloped in plain brown 
cloaks, leaving nothing visible but their tall drab-colored hats 
without brims, and a small portion of the face and beard; 
their heads were bowed down, and they walked with a solemn 
and impressive air several times round the hall—the music 
waxing wilder and fiercer all the time. 
At length the patriarch stopped ; the priests or worshipers 
G* 
