Identifier: egyptpainteddesc00kell (find matches)
Title: Egypt painted and described
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Kelly, Robert Talbot, 1861-1934
Subjects: Egypt -- Description and travel
Publisher: London, A. & C. Black
Contributing Library: New York University, Institute of Fine Arts Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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t last fantasia which ends Ramadan. Thistakes place at night, in the Citadel Mosque ofMohammed Ali, when, after the Khedive has performedhis devotions, the mosque is thrown open to all whocome. The huge interior is brilliantly illuminated byinnumerable lamps hanging from the roof and dome,which can hardly be seen through the smoke of incense.The floor is richly carpeted, and, with the variedcostume of the dense mass of people attending theperformance, combines a feast of colour and light,as well as a curious study of physiognomies whichalternately express faith, incredulity, or amusement. All over its large floor-space are gathered littlegroups of the devout, chanting to the accompanimentof ood, kemengeh, or tabla. Interest mainly centresin the large ring near the kibleh, where fifty ormore Howling Darwishes perform. In this case theyare standing, and with each cry of Allah ! bendalmost double from the waist, till their long locksnearly touch the ground as they salaam. This 224 A ZIKR
Text Appearing After Image:
Religion and Character of the Egyptians party is accompanied by several young men who playupon large tambourines in unison. Their playing hasa quaint effect, as, by striking the skin or rim, thequality of the sound is changed ; and by alternating thefingers, or flat of the hand, other variations are effected.The effect is something like this : Tm-Tum-Bzz-Tm-Tum-Bzz, but in a full rich tone v^^hich is veryharmonious v^hen many players are engaged. Mean-while the Howlers rest occasionally from their exer-tions, but on each occasion the performance is renewed ata slight acceleration of the tempo. So, by slow degrees,enthusiasm is worked up, and the pace increased untilthere is no time in which to pronounce the whole word,which now is only -lah, -lah. Men fall insensibleand are dragged away, the music meanwhile becomingquicker and quicker, until the motion of the Darwishesis so rapid as to prohibit speech, and all the soundemitted is a suffocated Ha. Now all present in the mosque gather t

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