GREETING THE SPRING.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1923, Page 1

GREETING THE SPRING.

DERVISH “.JAZZ” PARTY. LONDON. A] ril I. The Caliph, at the head of a vast oroxvtl, and with pomp and pageantry made ;i pilgrimn;_je to ibe iiio.sijuo outside Censtnntinnple, pays "The Times correspondent, lo attend the mysteriouscet'emnny known as the “Aiivlevis.” or whirling dervishes greeting the vernal equinox. The mo.-que was i rowdi il. and the Aloslem and dervish d.igniuiries were gaily roljed. The air "'as heavy with incense. After the recital of a Persian litany and i f Arabic prayers, tho crowd thunderously invoked the blessing of Allah on the Caliph, who sat in a latticed gallery. Syrups, milk and streets were distributed, and then three circles of dervishes formed on the floor, linked arms, and commenced to circulate in the direction of the sun's path. To a. un nntouous chant, their speed iiierensed until the dancers became frenzied, pale, and perspiring. .Suddenly tlie circle broke up, and a line of men, accompanied by the heating of tom-toms, drums and cymbals, began to Low profoundly till they were all exhausted. The music stopped, and then four dervishes entered playing on reed pipes a melancholy tune, and accompanied by tlie subdued clashing of cymbals. Then 10 dervishes began to gyrate on the floor, faster and faster, their mantles standing out from their waists like hells. The music died down for a time, there- was no sound but that-| of bine feet in motion. | Then the music of a single pipe broke out. followed by thunderous singing. The "hirlcrs slopped, bowed, and walked iut " ithout a trace of giddiness, i despite their quai ter of >n hour's gv- j rations. The eongregat ien then dispersed.