Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-09-02
/ Moorish Wedding.

III Que llmC we dfrlNGu al Ilc pIlue-
groom's house, where men were
screaming and firing guns. An old
Moor seized me by the shoulders and
pushed me into the doorway. /
thought might as well goin and see
all that was to be seen; so | ventured
in. On Mr.. Y-trying to follow me
he was seized by half dozen stalwart
Moors and detained outside, and none
of the men were allowed to enter the
rest Of the ladies came in, in fear and
trembling, though there really was no
danger. IN the house there was a
terrible row; seven or eight women
were beating drums Of various dimen-
SONS and screaming at the highest
pitch Of their voices, "ai, al, ali" III
the shrillest Of tones. In another room
were women cooking on the ground,
over charcoal earthenware tlre-placeS.
They have no table or chairs, and it
was very strange to see the women
with their plates on the ground, step
ping about over them with their bare
feet and legs. The entrance to the
bridegroom room vas closed by q
curtain.
| had Just time to notice all this,
when we heard loud screams Of "ai,
al, ai, al, al and iu came four men
CARRYING the box that contained the
bride. They deposited the box in the
curtained room, and expeditiously re-
fired: all the women having hidden
thpir faces when the men entered,
We tried in vain to see into the room
and catch glimpse OF the bride. An
old slave held up her blanket before
the deor, and would not allow any
one to look in. Presently man
came in and carried out the empty
box, which was Immediately hoisted
on t. The roof and left there. Then
| the men outside commenced firing in-
| TO the house; and we, finding no one
| but the bridegroom could see the bride
| that night, and being half sutlocated
with smoke, determined upon trying
! to make our exit, and in lull in the
firing, rushed out as fast as we could
run, for fear Of being shot, for they
We're aiming straight into the house,
and marking the walls and door.
| We ladies afterwards went and saw
/ the bride. She was seated oh u klno
of bed, covered with thick gold and
silk shawl or veil, and looked like Q
pyramid. In front Of her, on the bed
were four women holding candles
! and on the ground some eight women
! playing Moorish music and singing
! in a doleful minor ABOUT the charmeS
ofthe bride When they saw me look
ing steadily at the pyramid, they
slowly raised the veil, and l behel(
the bride. She was most gorgeously
dressedin gold and scarlet; gold chains
round her neck, huge earrings in he
ears, and q cloth of gold head dress
| Her face was excessively painted; tw,
large triangular patches OF scarlet Will
| blue and white and black patterns Oh
her cheeks, a blue cross on her chin
her eyebrows and eyes blackened, AM
the latter glued shut for three days
Her hands We're traced over with In
dian ink in wonderful patterns, ant
the insides and nails dyed Orange
There she sat like great doll Will
we stared at her. Someof the womel
were very anxious to paint me; but
shook my head and ran away.
Wehave also seen a Jewish wed
ding in which the bride was mos
magnifcently dressed. The cap
pearls on her head were worth nor
than sl00 las the bridegroom told us
besides other splendid gems. We ladit
have also visited several harems, tn
. bashaw's among Others; and We haV
f had tea at one--such tea. 1t IS COZ
: sidered a great luxury, and is given
q great compliment. To be offered
, and to refuse is an unpardonable il
+ suit; so of course we had to drink i
The sugar, six huge Jumps were pl
a into the teapot, and the chief wi
= calmly stirred it with n spoon T,
q about live minutes, then three TINT
! over poured out cup and retWnC
. tito the teapot, and finally gave
e each cupful of this weak syrupy te
i The slaves handed us horrible mast
r Moorish swetts and cakes We ht
i TO pretend to eat, and some we MAJ
!, aged to swallow, but glad enough we
Q we for the ceremony to be oVer-O
d J OtW Frcsidc.