New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-05-26

was no end, and the sense OF danger gave spice
to its richness and novelty. Occasionally, ! saw
large holes in the ground, which my attendant
said were those Of serpcnts. No gazelle was to
be seen, and when L reached the shore again, the
wild geese had left.
The sun this morning showed very different
landscape from that of the previous two days. The
river is broader but the shores are clothed with
more .canty vegetation, and the few islands in the
stream are but beds of sand. When the men
stopped for breakfast we were in the neighborhood
offs village Of Hassaniyehs, as had previously
conjcctured from the camels and donkeys grazing
among the thorns. Leaving the sailors to Kill one
of our sheep, I took Achmet and the ras, and fol-
lowed the paths inland through wood Of scatter
ing mimosas. After walk of ten minutes we came
to the village, or rather encampment, since the
dwellings wcre mere tents Of sticks and reeds.
They were barely large enough to cover the two
or three angarebs, which served as bed for the
whole family. Although the sun was an hour
HIGH not more than half the inhabitants were STIR
ring. The others, men and women, thrust their
heads from under their dirty cotton nantes and
looked at rs with establishment not unmixed with
fear. The women, who had already risen, sat on
the ground kindng the fires, or spinning with
rude distaff the raw cotton which these people
cultivate. We found two or three men, whom we
.aluted with the usual Peace be with you !" and
the ra;s informed them that the Sultan's son, re-
tnrn;n. from a visit to the Shillooks, with
whom he had made treaty of peace, had come to
sec them. Thereupon one of them brought an
angsreb and set it in the shade for me- while another
caught q She goat that was browsing among the
bushes, and soon returned with gourd half full
of warm milk, which he gave me. As sour milk is
considered great delicacy among these people, a
gourd of it was also procured for me. The woman
who brought it knelt and placed it at my fest but
as could not drink it and did not wish to refuse
their gift, asked one Of the men to take it to the
boat. He hesitated, evidently afraid to trust him.
self with US, whereupon the woman said !: g am
not afraid to go with the Sultan l will take it,"
As we started to return, the man, whose sense of
bravery, and perhaps his jealousy ALSO touched
by this remark, came likewise and accompanied US
to the river. When we reached the vessel l sent
the milk on board for the sailors use and gave the
woman two piastres in copper money and hand
full of tobacco. She Immediately put her hand to
which the rails said was intended as an expression
of great joy. After repeating this two or three
times she dropped on her knees, and before |
could divine her intention, kissed my red slipper.
In short time received word that the women
of the village would come to perform dance Of
welcome and sautation, if would allow them.
As the wind was blowing strongly against us and
the sailors had not finished skinning the sheep,
had my carpet spread on the sand in the shade of
a group of mimosas, and awaited their arrival.
Presently We heard sound of shrill singing and
the clapping of hands in measured beat, and dis.
cemed the procession advancing slowly through
the trees. They came two by two, nearly thirty
in ALL singing a shrill, piercing chorus, which
sounded more like lamentation than greeting.
When they had arrived in front of me, they ranged
themselves into a semicircle with their faces to-
ward me, and, still clipping their hands 70 mark
the rhythm Of the song, she who stood in the GEN.
ter stepped forth, with her breast heavcd almost
to a level with her face, which was thrown back
and advanced with slow, unduating motion till
she had reached the edge of my carpet. Then,
with quick jerk, she reversed the curve of her
body, throwing her head forward and downward
so that the multitude Of her long twists of black
hair, shining with butter, brushed my cap. This
was intended as q saiutstion and sign of welcome.
l bowed my head at the same time, and she went
back to her place in the rank. After pause the
chorus was resumed and another advanced, and so
in succession, till all had saluted me, ceremony
which occupied an hour. They were nearly all
Young between the ages of fourteen aud twenty,
It'll; uc lv haau had tha
dark -elivs Arab complexion, with regular features
teeth of peary whiteness and black, brilliant eyes,
The coarse cotton robe thrown owe shoulder
left free the arms, neck and breasts, which were
exmisitely nodded. Their bare feet and ANGLES
were MS slender and delicate those of the Venus
of Cleomenes. Owing to the skirts worn by the
American women have no recollection of ever
having seen an entire female foot among Them
and therefore can make no comparison; but
doubt if one in a thousand stands ON so light aud
beautiful a pedestal as these wild African girls.
There were two or three old women in the COM
pany, but they contented themselves with singing
and did not venture into the lists with the younger
ones.
Several Of tho men, who had followed in the
rear Of the women, came and sat near us, on the
sand. They were all evidently delighted with the
occasion, and encouraged the more tinid of the
dancers by their words. One Of them was an old
man, with long gray moustache and beard, car
rying in his hand spear, pointed with iron. My
mis and sailors on the ground, and one of the
latter, splendid fellow, whose form was almost
perfect in its manly strength, took his station.
among the women and acted as master of the cere-
monies. He drew line in the sand down the CEN
ter Of the ring, and another along the edge of my
carpet, and she who did not dance down the line
until the final toss of her head threw her hair over
the Sultan's cap obliged to perform her part
over again. My sailor slapped his hands, joined in
the song, and moved with such entire and absolute
grace in the dance, that he almost drew away my
atte,t,on from, tho vomep Az rho cerep,onv rae