New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-26
A NiGHr-scENs IN LUXOR.

1uesday, Dee. " isoI
NIGHr-scENs IN LUXOR
Two days IL the tombs Of the Kings and
the temples of the Remssides and the 0sirsi
exhausted us more thoroughly than week d
hard labor. In addition t. the natural and az
citing emotion with which we contemplated
these remains, and which we would no, rspress
II we could, we puzzled ourselves with the &C.
crets Of Egyptian architecture and ths myss
ries Of Egyptian faith. These pregnant &sys
were followed BY slsepless nights. and We
reached Luxor at sunset with certain dread
of the morrow Our mental nerves were too
tensely strung, and we felt severely the want Of
SEINE relaxation of an opposite character. The
course which We adopted to freshen our minds
Tor Karnak may strike you IS singular. but Il
was most eifsctual, and car be explained On the
truess philosophical principles.
In the afternoon Achnet had informed us that
two of the celebrated Almehs, or dancing No.
men of the East, who had been banished 10 Rs
neh were in Luxor and recommended US to wit
ness their performance. This was welcome
proposition, and the matter was soon arranged.
Our rsis procured large room, had it cleared.
engaged the performers and musicians and took
the cushions OF our cabin to make us stately
seat II one should engage Tripler Hall and
hire company OF ballst-dancers to perform Zoe
his special amusement. the fact would shake
the pillars of New. York society, and even hsrv.
| can think Of some very good friends who will
condemn our proceeding as indiscreet and uu-
worthy the serious aims Of travel As have no
apology to make ts myself, need make none to
them. except to suggest that the first nd Of
travel is instruction, aud that the traveller 10
fully justified in pursuing this end, - long as he
neither Injuries himself nor others.
About eight o'clock, accomp anied by Achmst,
our Theban guide, the rals of our vessel and our
fsvorite sailor, Ali, we sc, OUT for the rendss-
vous. Ali is the most genslemanlike Arab I
ever saw. His appearance is always nsat and
orderly, but on this particular evening his white
turban was sprucer than ever, and his blue man-
tie hung as gracefully ON his shoulders as the
cloak OF a Spanish grandes He followed be-
hind us. rsJoicngiy bearing the chibouks. as We
walked under the moonlit columns OF Luxos.
We passed around tho corner of the temple and
assembled flight OF stone steps, to ono Of the
upper chambers. Ii was a room about thirty
feet long by fifteen wide, with a roof of palm
logs, covered with thatch. The floor rested on The
ceiling of the ancient sanctuary. Our ship-laasms
were already suspended from the roof, and Q
few candles, stuck in empty bottles, completed
the illumination.
We were politely received and conducted 70
the divan, formed imprompm of largo eefass.
or hen coop, covered with carpet and cush-
ions. We seated ourselves upon il, with lsgs
crossed Moslen- wise, while our attendants
ranged themselves on the floor on our left. sna
Ali stood on the right, ready to replenisA The
pipes. Opposite to us sat the two Almehs, with
four attendant dancers, and three female sing-
ers, and beside them the music. consisting ~
two drums, & tamberine, aud a squeaking Arab
violin Our crew, shining in white tur0ans,
were ranged near the door, with number Of In
vited guests, so that tina whole company
amounted to upward of forty persons. On ear
entrance tho Almchs roso, ssme forward and
greeted us, touching eur hands to the lips and
forehead. They then sat down, drank each Q
email glass of ayakee, and while the drum
thumped and the violin drawled monosoaous
prelude to the dance. we had leisure to scruti-
nize their dress and features
The two famed danseuses bore Arabic names
which were translated TO us as the Orange Blss.
som and the Apple Blossom The frs. was Il
medium size, with an olive complexion, and 70
sular, though not handsome features. She wore
q white dress, ftnng like vest from tho shsul-
iers to the hips. with short. flowing sleeves. an
der which fine blue gauze, confined at tho wrist
with bracelets, hung like a mist about her arms.
Her hsad-dress was q small rcd cap, with Q
coronst of gold coins, under which her black hair
escaped in two shining braids The Applo'Bios-
.om, who could not have been mere than fifteen
years old, was smali and slightly formed, dark
skinned, and might have been called beautifuL
but for defect in one of her eyes Her drsss
was Of dark crimson silk, with tro wsors and
armlets Of white gauze. and a red cap, % COW
cred with coins that it nearly resemblea hel.
met of golden scales, with q fringe falling on
each side Of her face. Three Of the other 80.
sistants were dressed in white, with shawls .
brilliant patterns bound around the waist. The
fourth was Nubisn slave, named Zakhfarn
whose shining black face looked wonderfully
picturesque under the scarlet mantle which
enveloped it like surban and fell in tong
folds almost to her feet. Among the singers
was one named Bemba, who is the saiy
really beautiful Egyptian have yet seen. Hes
features were large but perfectly regular. snA
her long, thick, silky hair hung loose asarly "
her shoulders before its cleaning mass was
gnhered into braids Her teeth were even, and
white As pearls. and the lids OF her large black
eyes were stained with kohl, which gave then
a languishing. melancholy expression. She was
most consummats actress for she no sooner
saw that We noticed her face than she assumed
the most Indifferent. air IN the world and did not
look at US again. But during the whole even
ing every movement was studied. The shawl
vss disnosed in more graceful folds about h09