The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-03-20
An Arab Wedding by Moonlight
EAlgiers Cor. London TELEGRAPH. ]

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Anxious to do their guests honor, the
good-tempered Arabs had fetched us chairs
from the fort, ana spread carpets beneath
them, and when we were seated the men
and boys ofthe village squatted around in
a large circle, enyeioped in their white bur-
houses, looking like so many volcanoes, as
the smoke Of pipe or cigarette emerged from
the hoods Of those garments. In one part
of the circle fire was lighted for coffee
making; til another, close to ourselves, a
carpet of plated grass was spread, and be.
hind all, III the shadow ofthe hut. one could
SEGA diui group Of forms in dark dresses
and tinseled walls from which every minute
a little tinkle Of laughter. OF tie sound Of
bracelets and bangles rolling together, siif
feed to tell US that the ladies of the place
were, as usual, all alive about the interest.
ing occasion. Then, Coffee being served,
the drums went at it again. and tlis pipes
blew,vigoronsly, the drums advancing and
the pipes retreating, and vice versa. as in a
quadrille, till, With an especially loud -four
ish, drums aud pipes changed places, and
the jackals, who had been joining in gave
up the evening as Quite spoiled for hunting,
and went bowling up the ravine. The mu-
sic vas rude, bnt Of a singular charm and
character for all that, and seeiiied to excite
the Arabs to boundless delight. One pulled
my sleeve, and whispered, "haya tagis, va
Ma,cga !''-4--Ist't It beautiful? By-and
by, a~last waiGng scream Of the pipes and
an earnest rappel Of the goatskins was an.
swered by a shrill cry from the women be-
hind US, &hereupoil the ring opened, and
into it glided in The moonlight, Fathma,
the best daneer Of her tribe, and aEhiei
maiden ITO the Invisible bride. Fathma
Is sixteen petite; slight, graceful as a ga.
zell, dark as the bfoyn patches on its muz-
zle; with large eyes like d gazelle's, shining
in the moonlight, and teeth as white as the
lemon flowers stirling in her black treeses
They are tied ZIP with handkerchief Of
black and silver, and she wears besides q
long white robe, which hides her feet, and
a bodice Of white and silver, opened be
tween her bosoms, the sleeves of which
come down far beyond her hands, leaving
lappets which she waves as she begins the
marriage dance. The marriage dance.
regret to say, Wds sometimes too decidedly
accentuee to describe pas a pas but if ey
er grace and apparetit Innocence could ex
cuse the plain Significance of every look
gesture and movement III sheh q Ballet al
| Fascination, pretty Fathiha's might. First
with subtle, rythmical, and almost serpen
tinelike wreathings Of her little body she
led the drums and pipes round the ring
then she glided to one end Of it, and hei
light figure throbbed and palpitated will
the quicker but perfectly graduated actor
Of growing passion till, though her fee
could not be seen to move, her form pass
ed up and down in the moonlight. eloquent
of what Arabs mean by love, with every
vibration and musical shudder Of the young
limbs and bosom. By-and.by she ceased
from this part Of the dance with a quicl
tremble of her body, and an indescribabll
graceful and languid abandon Of attitude
and while deep sigh Of "Wah wah vi
Allah went round the burnouses, the wo
men raised the shrill cry again. Then Faith
ma executed a pas for the special benefit o
hervisitors- dancing in front Of each Of us
and touching each-upon which, as in cour
tesy and gallantry bound, we put pierre o
money upon her forehead, which was trans
ferred to some deep receptacle IN her DO
som; the drums and pipes proclaimin;
each gift, and the ladies outside making u
blush by their excited Acknowledgements
These coins and those given by the rela
lions 90 to the bride, who remained al
this time concealed and as etiquette an,
fatigue alike demanded it, We rose and lef
Fathmb refreshing herself with coffee, get
ting glympss as We passed out Of the TN
yelled faces Of the women. and che sbnda
drums were banging still, and the pipes ri
valing them, when we fell asleep.