Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-04-23
WHOLE NO. 3l2.
An A;ab Wedding Ball.


of the tent concealed the bride, who,
: closely veiled, sat within, surrounded
by women. On the outside, between
four and five hundfed people were
collected, AMI clear space vas kept
IN the middle for the dancers, by two
men with drawn swords, who yigor-
ously applied, right and left, the fat
OF the blade to all who pressed too
forward. On one side Of the ring
squalted the band, consisting of two
men, with Instruments like faseo-
lets, and-a- drummer, who accompa-
uied the music with bis voice. In
she centre was - middle-woman,
dressed in the usual dark blue cotton
garments, but decked with all her
ornaments earrings. bracelets and
a necklace, to which suntry charms
and amulets, teeth of wild beasts,
verses Of the Koran sewed up in
little bags, and various other odds ard
ends, considered as projections fro In
the evil eye, we're suspended; large
circular brooch of silver or white
metal (the same in form as those
used By the Scotch IIighEnders) con-
fined the loose folds across her bo-
som, and small looking glass, set in,
metm, dangled conveniently at tho
end OF a striag Of sufficient length TO.
allow, Of her admiring her charms in
/ detail. Her face was uncovered, and
ber features were harsh and disagree
s6ie, except tie eyes, which we're
large and expressive, with that peeu-
liar lusirous appearance given by tho
use of mineral paint. Her feet were
hardly visible from The length II her
dress, and her finger nails, together
with the palms of her hands, were
stained with henna As soon us We.
had taken our stand in the row, the
music, which had ceased for few min
utes, struck up, and the lady in the
midst commenced her performauces;
inqlining her head hughiugly from
I side to side, she beat time With Ler
feet, raising each foot alternately
from the ground with jerking ac-
ton, us il she had been standing on
a hot floor, at the same time twist
ing about her body, with II slow move
ment of the hands aud arms. Sew
eral others succeeded her, and danced
in the Same style, with an equal want
of grace. A powerful Indictment to
excl themselys was not wanting, for
one of them more than once received
some tolerably severe blows, both
from a stick and the fiat of The swOrd;.
what the reason was ] do not kaow,.
but suppose that either she was lszy
or danced badly While the dancing
was going on the spectators were not
idle; aimed With guns, pistols are.
blunderbusses, with enoT nous bell
mouths, an irregular Ere Sas kept up.
Advancing a step or two into The
circle, so as to SHOW OF before the
whole party, an Arab would presant
bis weapon al a friend opposite throw
ing himself into graceful attitude,
then suddenly dropping the muzzle
ut the instant Of pulling the trigger,
the charge struck the ground close
to the feet of toe person aimed at.
After each report, the women sci up
long continued shriil cry ofla-lt
la-}a, and the musicians redOubled
their efforts. Tie advance Of ono
man is usually the signal for Others,
to come forward at the same time, all
anxious to suFpass their lriends aud
neighbors in dexterity and grace
Ten or dozen men being crowded
into a small space, sometimes not
more than six spaces vide, brandisL-
ing their arms; and, excited by the
mimic conlbat, firing often TO random,
It is not TO be wondered at ifaccidents
happen occasionally TO the actors or
bystanders.