Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-10-18

/ palaYer, tndI lOulu lney Cohoiuoieu ''oA.S ~
sighted, first of all because we had not fred a
salvo in their honor, and secondly because we
failed to spread mats from the beach to the mousse
upon which the bride might place her virgin lee'
without defement! These were indispensable
fotmaIites among the 'upper ten y and the result
was that Coomba could not land unless the etI-
quette was fulfilled.
Here, then, was a sad dilemma. The guns
could be fired instantly but where, alas !! at a
moments notice, were we to obtain mats enough
to carpet the five hundred yards of transit from the
river to the house2 The match must be broken
off!
NV crest-falen cockney Immediately began 10
excuipate himself by pleading ignorance OF the
country's misunderstanding the strangers that he
had not the slightest inkling of the requirement;
Still, the stubborn 'fmaster OF ceremonies wouiu
not relax an iota of his rigorous behests.
At length our bulky dame approached the mas
ter of the bridal party, and squa;ng on her knees,
confessed her neglectful fault. Then, Tor the hrst
time, saw CLEAN of hope. Joseph improved
the moment by alleging that he employed this Ia
dy patroness to conduct every thing in the subll,
NEST STYLE imaginable, because it was presumed
no one knew better than she all that was requisite
for SO admirable and vrtuous lady as Coomba.
lnasmuch, however, as he had been &appolnted
by her unhappy error, he did not think the blow
should fall on his shoulders. The negligent ma
tron ought to pay the penalty and, as It was I'M
possible now to procure the mats. she should tor
felt the value of slave to aid the merry making,
and carry The bride on her back from The rtrer to
her home!
A cIappng of hands and quick murmur of as
sent ran through the crowd, telling me that the
compromise was accepted. But the porterage
was no sinecure for the delinquent elephant, who
found it difficult at times to get along over Atfl-
can sands even without burden. Still, no time
was lost in further parey or remonstrance The
muskets and cannon were brought down and ex-
plede the royal boat was brought to the landing
father, mother, brothers, and relat IONS were para
ded on the strand tom toms and horns were peat
en- and blown; and, at last, the suffering missiGh
ary waddled to the canoe to receive The Veled
form of the slender bride.
The process of removal was accompanied by
much merriment Our corpnlent porter groaned
as she "larded the lean earh' beneath her pom
derous tread but, in due course OF labor ana pa
| tience, she sank with her charge on the oaihDoo
couch of Master Joseph.
As soon as the bearer and the burden were re-
iieved from their fatigue, the maiden was brought
to the door, and, as her long conceallng veil OF
spotess cotton was unw!apped from the head and
limbs, shout of admiration went up from The ma
tive crowd that followed US from the quay to the
hovel. As Joseph received the hand of Coomba
he paid the princely fee of slave TO the matron.
Coomba had certainly not numbered more than
sixteen years, yet in that burning region the sex
ripen long before their pallid sisters OF the north
She belonged to the SOosoo tribe, but was descend
ed from Mandingo ancestors, and was partlcu-
| larly struck by the uncommon symmetry OF her
taperng limbs Her features and head, though
decidedly African, were not OF that course and
heavy cast that marks the linements of her race.
The grain of her shining skin was as fine and pol
ished as ebony. A melancholy anguor subdued
and deepened the blackness of her large eyes,
while her small and even teeth CLEANED with the
brilliant purity of snow. Her mouth was rosy
and even deicate and. indeed, had not her an
kles, feet, and wool manifested the unfortunate
types of her kindred, Coomba. the daughter OF
Mongo-T ungee, might have passed ior chS a.
oucre In black marble.
The scant dress of the damsel enabled me to be
minute in this catalogue of her charms; and IN
truth had not inspected them closely | would
have violated matrimonial etiquette as much as Ii
failed to admire the irouSseau and gifts of bride
at home. Coomba's costume was as lnnocenty
primitive as Ewes after the expulsion. Like all
imadens of her country, she had beads round her
ankles, beads round her waist, beads round her
neck. while an abundance of bracelets hooped her
arms from wrist to elbow. The white tontongee
still qirdled her loins; but Coomba's climate was
he'd mantuamaker, and indicated more nece jsity
for ornament than drapery. Accordingly, Coomba
was obedient to Nature, and troubled herself very
little about supply of useless garments, to load
the rfesses and veX the purse OF her bridegroom.
AS soon as the process Of unveiling was over
and time had been allowed the spectators to be-
hold the damsel, her mother led her gently to the
fat ambassadress, who, with her companions, bore
the girl to bath for abluton, anointment and per-
fuminp. While Coomba underwent this ceremo-
nv ct the hands of our matron ocks of sable DANES
entered the apartment; and, as they withdrew,
shook hands with her mother, in token of the mai
den's purity, and with the groom in compliment
| to his luck.
As soon as the bath and oifng were over, six
girls issued from the hut, bearing the glstening
bride on snow-white sheet to the home of her
spouse The transfer was soon completed, and
the burden deposited on the nuptial bed. The
dwelling was then closed and put in charge of SEN
tines: when the plump plenipotentiary approach
ed the Anglo Saxon, and handing him the scant
fragments of the bridal dress pointed to the door,
and In loud voice exclaimed: "White man,
this authorizes you 10 take possession of your
wife," ,--.-.. .
1t may naturally be supposed that our radiant
cockney was somewhat embarrassed by so public
display of matrimonial happiness, at SIX o'clock
in the afternoon, on the thrtieth day of asweter-
ing June. Joseph could not help looking at me
with blush and laugh, as he saw the eyes OF
the whole crowd fixed On his movements but,
nerving himself like a man, he made profound
salaam to the admiring multitude, and shaking my
hand with a convulsive grip, plunged into the
darkness of his abode A long pole was forthwith
planted before the door, and slender strip Of
white cotton about the size of ''tontongee, was
hosted in token of privacy, and floated from the
staff like pennant, giving notice that the commo-
dore is aboard.
No sooner were these over, than the house was
surrounded by swarm Of women from the ada
cent villages, whose incesSant songs, screams,
chatter, and tom tom beatings drowned every NOR
tai sound Meanwhile, the men of the party
whose nerriment around an enormous bonfire was
augmented by abundance of liquor and provisions
amused themselves in dancing, yelling and dis
charging muskets in honor of the nuptials.
Such was the ceaseess serenade that it drove
peace from the lovers pillow during the whole OF
that memorable night. At dawn the corpulent
matron again appeared from among the wild and
reelng crowd. and concluding her functions by
some mysterious ceremonies, led forth the lank
groom from the dark cavity of his hot and Sleep
less oven, looking more like a bewildered wretch
rescued from drowning than a radiant lover fresh
from his charmer. In due time the bride also was
brought forth by the matrons for the bath, where
she was anonted from head to foot with vegeta-
Bile butter-whose odor is probably more agreeable
to Africans than Amercans-and fed with bowl
of broth made from young and tender pulet.
The marriage fetes laste1 three days, after
which insisted that Joseph should give up non
sense for business, and sobered his ecstaces by
handing him wedding bill for five hundred and
fifty dollars. There is hardly doubt that he
considered Coomba very dear, if not absolutely