The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-31

When we assembled at o'clock, we found the
floor in a large saloon occupied by three profess
sional dancers, women Of perhaps five and twenty
years, who, under the direction of an older woman
make 1t their business to entertain the citizens of
Assiout with this favorite pleasure. Two were
nearly white, but the chief dancer was thoroughly
black and looked not unlike the strong African
wenohes formerly seen in the eotton.feds of the
South. They were all dressed in very gsudy, but
by no means elegant gowns, over Turkish trou.
sers. On their heads they wore skullcaps Of
solid silver, fitting close. Around their necks
were loose collars of gold, hung with flsgree
pendants of very ornate and showy character,
and below these strings of Austrian half eagles to
the number of at least two hundred and fifty, so
that their ornameDtatiOn could have not been
worth less than two thousand dollars. They
were stout women, with no pretensions 10
beauty Of figure, being short and thick wa isted,
and with just as little claims TO grace. They had
mefallic castanets in their hands, with which they
accompanied the music Of the native band. Ii
consisted Of two fidders, seated on their hams in
turbsns and flowing robes, old and dirty, who
played upon vols upon two strings. The viols
had 10 other body than q center three inches
square on a rod Of three feet long, with finger
board at one end, and the other ending like q
cane and resting on the floor. They brought a
surprising amount OF shril, twangiug noise, with
some approach 10 an air, out of these imperfect
Instruments, and, accompanied by two drum
mers, supplied an adequate rhythm and stimulus
10 tue ObnCeIS, VINO OCCASIONALLY JOlned tneir
voices to the music. The dancing consisted in
very grsceless gyrations, which we're made fast
or slow as the music guided and in swayfng
or contortiOns much more suited to the circus
or gymnasium than to the saloon. The prn
cpsl feat consisted in convulsing the body
until it trembled like jelly or worked like yeast
while the feet and head kept perfectly still. II
exhibited an extraordinary and almost Incredible
control Of the muscles which are usually wholly
automatic and beyond our influence, except as
they act in connection with the limbs and head.
The effect, however, was painful, not to say dis.
gusting. The negress far excelled 10 pliancy and
postuTemsking her white sisters. She seemed
capable of every motion of the most skilled male
contortionist, and picked up rings with her mouth
from the fOor, bending backward from her feet
until her forehead and heels met. There was a
possibility Of a sndon and orgiastic fury in this
creatures movement and mien, that kept Us in
constant apprehension that the utmost limits of
deceDcy would soon be passed. But the presence
of some American ladies restrained her. although
il became very apparent to what infammatory
uses the oriental dancing was put 20 among the
natives, and how readily and naturally il served
the worst purposes. ! confess / never felt myself
in less pleasant predicament, nor felt more
grateful relief than in getting out in the fresh air
after such an experience of oriental degreda-
don.-lLetter TO the Liberal Christian.