DANCING DERVISES. 
759 
the musicians. On entering, we found the Dervises seated 
round the inner side of the circle; their shiek also was present, 
a venerable personage, habited in a long green robe. His head 
was enveloped in a high cap, wound round with a shawl, both 
of the same colour with his robe. The whole brotherhood wore 
the same coiffure; and each were enveloped in the large surtout 
mantle common to the Turks, but of the most sombre hues. 
All looked most devoutly to the earth. We had not been long- 
gazing at the silent group, when the music began from the 
gallery. The strains were beautiful, proceeding from a peculiarly 
formed set of flutes, and accompanied by a corded instrument 
in base. These slow sounds continued for half an hour, when 
suddenly a small drum was struck, and the whole band of Der¬ 
vises instantly bowed their heads to the ground. They then rose 
at once, and began a slow measured pace, following each other 
round the circle, to the solemn sounds of the music. As they 
alternately came opposite to a certain pillar, on which was written 
a prayer to the founder of the order, each made a most pro¬ 
found obeisance, then whisked round like lightning on one foot, 
and instantly dropped into the solemn pace thus momentarily 
interrupted. This manoeuvre was certainly something ridiculous; 
but the attentive silence, united with the melancholy tones of 
the instruments, checked my first propensity to laugh; and 
afterwards I saw no inconsiderable degree of beauty in the re¬ 
gularity of the movements. Three circles of this first style of 
evolution, were trodden; and at the end of the third, each 
Dervise kissed the hand of the shiek as he passed him, who, in 
return, appeared to give his benediction. This done, in an in¬ 
stant, their outer robes were thrown off, and the whole frater¬ 
nity were seen in short jackets, and long petticoats, (all of the 
