Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-06-11
En- Arab Welcome.

Eli ElSJ 80 BCiScA-lSs
rBayard Taylor, in one of his recent
letters to The Tribune from Central Africa,
thus describes his visit to an Arab village
near the banks of the Nile
When the men stopped for breakfast we
were in the neighborhood of village of
Hassaniyehs, as | had previously onject.
ured, from the camels and donkeys grazing
among the thorns. Leaving the sailors to
kill one of our sheep, took Achmet and
the rails, and followed the paths inland
through a wood Of scattering mimosas.
After walk of ten minutes we came to
Che village, or rather encampment, since
the dwellings were mere tents of sticks
and reeds. They were barely large enough
TO cover the two or three angarcbs, which
served as a 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
man.les and looked at us with astonish-
ment not rnmixed with fear. The women,
who had already risen, sat on the ground
kindling the fires, or spinaing with rude
distaff the raw cotton which these people
cultivate We found two or three men,
whom we salutea With the usual "Peace
be with you and the rails informed them
that the Sultan's son, returning from visit
to the Shillooks, with whom he had made 4
treaty of peace, had come to see them.
Thereupon one Of them brought an anga-
reb and Sc. il in the shade for me, while
another caught she-goa that was brows-
ing among TIE bushes, and soon returned
with a gourd half full of warm milk,
which he gave me. As sour milk is con-
sidered great delicacy among these people,
gourd of it was also procured for me.
The woman who brought it knelt and
PLACED it at my feet, but as | could not
drirpaeit, and did not wish to refuse their
gift,e tf5ked one Of the men TO take it to
the Loaf. He hesitated, evidently afraid
to trust himself with US, whcreupon the
woman said "I am net afraid to 60 along
with the Sultan | will take it." AS we
started to return, the man, whose sense Of
bravery, and perhaps his jealousy also, was
touched by this remark, came likewise and
accompanied US to the river. When We
reached the vessel | cent the milk on
board for the sailors use, and gave the
woman two piastres in copper money and
a handful of tobacco. She Immediately
put her hand to her mouth and uttered
piercing, prolonged cry, which the rails said
was intended for an expression Of great
joy. After repeating this two or three
times she dropped on her knees, and before
l could divine her intention, kissed my
red slipper.
In short time received word thai the
women of the village would come to per-
form dance of welcome and .alutatiCn,
if would allow them. As the wind was
blowing strongly against Us, and the sail
ors had not finished SHINING the sheep, |
had my carpet spread on the shade of a
group of mimosas, and awaited their arri-
val Presently We heard a sound of sbrill
singing and the clapping of hands in a
measured beat, and discerned the process
sion advancing slowly through the trees.
They came two by two, nearly thirty i'll
all, singing shrill, piercing chorus, which
sounded more ike lamentation than greet
ing. When they had arrived in front Of
me, they ranged themselves into semi
circle, and, still clapping with their hands to
marx the rhythm Of the song, she who
stood in the center stepped forth, with her
breast heaved almost to a level with her
face, which was thrown back, and advanced
with slow, undulating 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 intend
ed as sign of welcome. 1 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 ad-
vanced, and so in succession, till all had
saluted me, ceremony which occupied an
hour. They were nearly all young, be-
tween the ages of fourteen and twenty,
and some were strikingly beautiful. They
had the dark olive Arab complexion, with
with regular features, teeth Of peaIly