ng but a distinct word.

And so this was completed, the circle getting ever larger and larger.
And it was remarked that men came in as dervishes who belonged to
various ordinary pursuits and trades; there were soldiers in the
circle, and, apparently, common labourers. Indeed, any one may join;
though I presume he would do so with some danger were it discovered
that he were not a Mahomedan.

Those who specially belonged to the college had peculiar gowns and
caps, and herded together on one side of the circle; and it appeared
to our friends, that throughout the entertainment they were by far
the least enthusiastic of the performers.

When this round of groaning had been completed--and it occupied
probably half an hour--a young lad, perhaps of seventeen years, very
handsome, and handsomely dressed in a puce-coloured cloak, or rather
petticoat, with a purple hat on his head, in shape like an inverted
flower-pot, slipped forth from near the tribune into the middle of
the circle, and began to twirl. After about five or six minutes, two
other younger boys, somewhat similarly dressed, did the same, and
twirled also; so that there were three twirling together.

But the twirling of the elder boy was by far the more graceful. Let
any young lady put out both her hands, so as to bring the one to the
level of her waist, and the other with the crown of her head, and
then go round and round, as nearly as possible on the same spot; let
her do this so that no raising of either foot shall ever be visible;
and let her continue it for fifteen minutes, without any variation in
the attitude of her arms, or any sign of fatigue,--and then she may
go in for a twirling dervish. It is absurd to suppose that any male
creature in England could perform the feat. During this twirling, a
little black boy marked the time, by beating with two sticks on a
rude gong.

This dance was kept up at first for fifteen minutes. Then there was
another short spell of howling; then another dance, or twirl; and
then the real game began.

The circle had now become so large as to occupy the greater part of
the hall, and was especially swelled by sundry new arrivals at this
moment. In particular, there came one swarthy, tall, wretched-looking
creature, with wild eyes, wan face, and black hair of extraordinary
length, who took up his position, standing immediately opposite to
the tribune. Other new comers also stood near him, all of whom were
remarkable for the le