Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/63

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DERVISHES AND MUFTIES.
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plain or ask for more. The majority of the beggar dervishes ask for charity by standing in the market places and repeating God's name, "Ya Hakk, ya Allah," O Truth! O God! constantly, and holding their Keshgoor, or horn, to persons they meet. Some of them sing while walking to attract the attention of the people; their good voice and significant poems are largely emotional and touching, as the soul's aspiration to reach the truth, vanities of this world and follies of a luxurious life or Jacob's lamentation over his lost son, Job's patience and deliverance, and sometimes praises of the martyred heroes, God's unchangeable will and the final destiny of the human soul.

2. Resident Dervishes. The majority of this order, however, are residents of the cities, having their own regular trades and families and properties. In their appearance they may be distinguished by green turbans around very high gray or white caps, long mantles and generally very long hair. They have various organizations, which they call certain "path" or "system." On certain nights during the week they come together at some mosque, or the Sheikh's department called "Tekkieh," convent or monastery, and spend hours in religious conversation. Especially on Thursday nights they hold a very long and fantastic meeting. First they sit on the floor in a circular form and begin to repeat the name of God (Hakk or Allah) with a low voice and in regular intervals of 50–70 in one minute. Gradually their enthusiasm in-