Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-04-26
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Dancing Girl: fine East.
A NIGHTS ADVENTURE, BY BAYARD TAYLOR


Almehs. or dancing women of the East,
" no had been banished to Esneh. and they
concluded to indulge themselves with Wit
Messing their performances.
1--WE were politely received and con
Quoted to the divan. formed imrromptu of
large catass, or hen coop, covered with
"A carpet and cushions. We seated our
selves upon it, with legs crossed Moslenr-
aise, while our attendants ranged them
selves on the floor on our left. and All
stood on the right, ready 10 repenish the
pipes. Opposite to US sat the two Almehs,
With four attendant dancers, and three e.
male singers. and beside them the music,
consisting of two drums, iamhorine, and
a squeaking Brah violin Our crew, shin
ing in white turbans, were ranged near
the door, with number Of invited guests.
so that the whole company amounted 10
upward of forty persons. On our en-
II ance the Almel's rose, came forward and
greeted us,touchng our hands to their lips
and iorehend. They then sat down, drank
each small glass of rrakee. and While the
drum thumped and the violin drawed
monotonous prelude TO the dance. we had
leisure to scrutinize their dress and fca
lures.
The two famed danseuscs bore Arabic
names " hich we're translated to US as the
Orange Blossom and the Apple Blossom.
The first was Of medium size. with an olive
complexion. anJ Regular. though not hand
some features. She wore u Mite dr,s..
fitting like vest from the shoulders to the
hips, with short iiow ing sleeves. under
= hich fine blue gauze. confined at the
" rist with bracelets, hung Ikea mist about
her arms. Her head d-drcss was "a small
red cap, with coronet of gold coins, un
der which her black hair escaped in two
shining hraiIs. The Apple Blossom, who
could not have been more than fifteen
years old, was small and slightly formed.
dark skinned, and might have been called
beautiful but for defect in one of her
eyes. Her dress was of dark crimson
silk. with lrow sers and armlets Of white
game, and a red cap. SO covered with
coins that ii near Y resembled helmet of
golden scales, with fringe falling on each
'."' VI NV ''1N' '.'o 81 'i1e o'neF as
''''., -, - .''ou ~ ""i'e VII" si'aM Is
waist. The fourth was Nuban slave.
named Zakfiara, " hose shining black face
looked wonderfully picturesque under the
scarle, mantle which enveloped it like
,ur"ati' a"o ie'l W 'ohS 'oids almost 10 her
ret among 'it sihsrrs was one named
,,e''''a' VINO % Tue oily tea!iy peaniiinI
Isl P,'"h nave YET seen l1er features
were 'a'Se' nu' Pet'ec''y 'egu.ar' ana ner
"ns '"''", s"Nf n"" .'u"a ioose nearly
!" "e' S,'o''ie'S 't'"'e il' g,eaui'ng mass
was e''"e'ep ,'''o oia'u'; ii'i 'te'h we're
even, anu Tli'T as PedriS' anu me Iids OF
ner iarSe "'deN eyes were stained Win
""T,' "n''" gave '''c'a 1t a 'a's"i'"'hg'mei-
aDcho'y expression, one "aS a most con
N"'i''''d'e "c'ieT' ~. sue no sooner sa"
''''' we '"''rtu ,'c ''er '"ce 'na'i sac assumed
'ne most ,i'ol''e'eii' an IA me world ana
d'u NOT 100" a' US AGAIN. Dut curing the
hoie evening every movement was
s'uo'eo, me s'''" was disposed IN more
graceful iolos ahout heI mead; the hair was
tossed BACK from her shoulders; Inc hard
nnged win hehha' helc the jasmine lube
OF her pipe IN hundred different attitudes
and only on lea'ing dld she MT her eyes
as II tlrs' a"are OF our presence and wish
US "0"ond Scra Inc only Italian words
she kne"-w'h 'he most mus'cal'accen;
OF "h'ch an Arao voice is capable. Mean,
hlle, the volces oi the women mingled
with the sh'i''' 'afOar'c tones Of the vioin,
and the prelude passed INTO measured
song OF '"hg' nn'arSi"s cadences' which
The drums ana 'a,nhorIne accompanied
WIN rapin heats' Inc Orange B"ss"m
ana one OF "er companions took ifir hoo,
alter Uiltiklng anOliler glass Df arakpe and