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2 April 1880 — Constantinople | |
Friday. 2nd April [1880]. Cut out clothes for refugees. We lunched at 1–& at ¼ past Alice, Arthur B. & I walked off to the Spanish Legation where we were joined by the Mantillas and thence we went to the Téké at the end of the Grande Rue to see the Dancing Dervishes. We had to wait a little while as we were before time– There were a good many Turks waiting about in the kind of court outside the mosque. A very picturesque place with huge cypresses every here & there—& some enclosed Dervishes tombs. As soon as the doors were opened & the crowd had gone in a Dervish took us in & up a small side stairs into a gallery which like a box at the theatre we had to ourselves. We were joined by Mr Bunbury & a friend of his & later Hill & Mme Joubert– After waiting sometime the Dervishes came in one by one & took up their places after bowing to the kublah—last of all came the chief dervish & sat down with his back to the Kublah on a mat—the others all bowed low & he began a prayer– From the music gallery in the centre over the door a Dervish read aloud & then the music began—a drum & what seemed like a flute & men singing– Suddenly 15 dervishes threw off their cloaks & began to walk round in procession & at a signal began one by one to spin round till 15 were spinning—the chief—standing in his place & another walking in a solemn manner among the spinners. The spinners wore long green dresses very full wh inflated with the air & made them look like tops. They held both arms high either over their heads or in a level with it. It made me quite giddy to see them twice they stopped suddenly & began again till at last they popped down on the ground & others fetched their cloaks & put them on their shoulders– Then the 2nd in command wh had walked in amongst them while spinning stood up & repeated something. The 1st also repeated a prayer—then all the dervishes came up in single file & exchanged kisses with him & then placed themselves on his right exchangg kisses with those who were placed in the rank– The chief bowed & walked solemnly & slowly out & the others followed. It was a most impressive ceremony. We walked home & I was glad of tea & rest as I was so giddy from seeing these good people spin before me. We met Aimée in the street & she came in with us. Mrs Foster called. Tried to make Alice begin her packing but she was very contradictory & unwilling so I left her & came to my room to write lessons with Emily. The Mantillas came in the eveng. Mr Wallace dined. We played dominoes Arthur Burr & I won against Henry & the Marquesa. Great excitement about the elections. The liberals have a majority of 16. | |
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