DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0160
124
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEH.
priests. I therefore landed with the janissary, and, join-
ing the crowd, I observed three or four men entirely-
naked, excepting a cloth round their waists, dancing upon
some mats, and amongst them a man, with a white cotton
cap, and a short apron, exerting himself in the most
furious manner, foaming at the mouth, and brandishing
a scourge of small cords in his right hand, and another
instrument in his left with the most violent gesticula-
tions, whilst a person stood behind to assist in case he
should fall from excitement, or from exhaustion. This
man, I found to my surprise, was one of the priests, and
that the ceremony, which I then witnessed, lasted three
or four days, and nights. A respectable looking man was
seated upon the ground on the opposite side of the mats,
dressed in a green robe, and turban, whom, I concluded,
from the colour of his dress, and appearance, to have
been the other functionary. I was told, however, that he
was only an attendant, and that the priest was a naked
wretch with a cloth round his waist, who knelt before him
in a state of the greatest possible exhaustion, and excite-
ment, and who made the most horrible contortions, and
noises, whilst the man in green in vain attempted to
pacify, and to sooth him. Upon our approach, the priest
jumped up, and came towards us with a large palm branch
in a threatening manner. I do not suppose that he would
have struck me ; but Selim, the janissary, probably in
order to enhance his own consequence, said, that he cer-
tainly would, and that the rest of the people would have
joined him, unless he had interposed. As soon as he had
done so, the priest dropped the stick, and, standing
upright, raised his head, and muttered a prayer; after
which he embraced, and kissed Selim the janissary, and
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEH.
priests. I therefore landed with the janissary, and, join-
ing the crowd, I observed three or four men entirely-
naked, excepting a cloth round their waists, dancing upon
some mats, and amongst them a man, with a white cotton
cap, and a short apron, exerting himself in the most
furious manner, foaming at the mouth, and brandishing
a scourge of small cords in his right hand, and another
instrument in his left with the most violent gesticula-
tions, whilst a person stood behind to assist in case he
should fall from excitement, or from exhaustion. This
man, I found to my surprise, was one of the priests, and
that the ceremony, which I then witnessed, lasted three
or four days, and nights. A respectable looking man was
seated upon the ground on the opposite side of the mats,
dressed in a green robe, and turban, whom, I concluded,
from the colour of his dress, and appearance, to have
been the other functionary. I was told, however, that he
was only an attendant, and that the priest was a naked
wretch with a cloth round his waist, who knelt before him
in a state of the greatest possible exhaustion, and excite-
ment, and who made the most horrible contortions, and
noises, whilst the man in green in vain attempted to
pacify, and to sooth him. Upon our approach, the priest
jumped up, and came towards us with a large palm branch
in a threatening manner. I do not suppose that he would
have struck me ; but Selim, the janissary, probably in
order to enhance his own consequence, said, that he cer-
tainly would, and that the rest of the people would have
joined him, unless he had interposed. As soon as he had
done so, the priest dropped the stick, and, standing
upright, raised his head, and muttered a prayer; after
which he embraced, and kissed Selim the janissary, and