Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/64

58 and their voices raise to a higher pitch. Then they come upon their knees, then stand upon their feet, and later they turn around in a circle, never omitting the regular repetition of God's name. After awhile they begin to whirl around the axis of their bodies, at the same time keeping the circular motion around the center, where they have their leader turning with the group and keeping the time. of their gestures and howling. By this time some of them have fainted and fallen down, while the others continue with greater eagerness. Gradually others fall, still they continue until every one is exhausted. This practice, commonly united with the use of stimulants and narcotics, has a remarkably injurious effect upon the bodily health and mental soundness of the dervishes.

3. Dervishes as the Guardians of Shrines. Tekkiehs in the towns, smaller convents on the hill sides, the tombs of certain saints or martyrs, and the sacred spots of the past ages attract multitudes of visitors or pilgrims from every part of the Mohametan world. The visitors are sure to bring some presents or kill a sheep, in keeping with their requests and vows. Such places are regarded as centers of supplication for incurable maladies, mental and physical deformities, sterility, poverty, failure in business, and to gain love and favor. The water, the soil, the leaves, the fruits, the shadows of the trees, the Wind and the sun of those places, are believed to have miraculous power. Such places are guarded by dervishes.