The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-08-25
4 Moorish Wedding.

In due time We arrived al the bride
grOOm's house, where men were
screaming and firing guns. An OLD
Moor seized me 10y the shoulders and
pushed he into the doorway. l
thought might as well gol IN aud sec
ali that was To be seen; 80 VenIured
in. On Mr.. \ trying 10 follow me
he was seized by half a dozen stalwart
MOOrs and detained outside, and none
Of the men We're allowed 10 enter; the
rest Of the ladies came in, il fear and
trembling, though there really was no
danger. IN the house there was =
terrible row; seven or eight women
were beating drums OF various dlmen-
a0ns and screaming at the highest
pitch OF their voices, al al, al III
The shriIIeSt OF tones. In another room
were women cooking on the ground,
over charcoal eartheuWare nTe-places.
They have no table or chairs, and II
was very strange TO see the women
with their plates On the ground, step
ming about over them with their bare
feet and legs. The entrance 10 the
bridegroOm's room WAS closed by
curtain.
/ had lust time to notice all this,
when we heard loud screams OF al,
al. nj. ai. al % and in came four men
the box that contained the
bride. Ihcy deposited the box III the
room, and eIpedltiOuslY re-
tired; all the women having hidden
their rgee- when the men entered.
We tried il vain 90 see into the room
and catch glimpse Of the bride. An
old slave held up her blanket hcioIe
the door, uuI would lot ailo" any
one 10 look in. Presently man
came in aud carried cut the empty
box, which was Immediately LOlsted
ON 10 the roof AMI left there. 1EeH
the men outside commenced firing III
to the house; and We, finding no one
!nt the bridegroom coUldsce the bride
That hight. and being half sutlOcated
with smoke, determined upon trying
to make our exit, and IN Iull Ia Ine
firing. rushed out a. fast a. we could
run. for fear Of being shot, for they
were aiming straight into the house.
and marking the walls and door.
We ladies afterwards went ana saw
the bride. She was seated Oh klnu
of bed, covered with thick gold and
silk shawl or veil, aud looked like q
pyramld. In front of her, on the BED,
we're four women holding candles
and on the ground some eight women
playIug Moorish music and singing
In a do.tfui minor about the cAaTmes
ofthe bride Wien they saw me look
ing steadily at the pyramid, they
slowly raised the veil, and | beheld
the bride. She was most g0TgtOusly
dressed in gold and scarlet; gold chains
round her neck, huge earrings III her
ears, and a cloth of gold head dress.
Her face was excessively painted; TWO
large triangular patches OF scarlet with
blue and white and black patterns on
her cheeks, a blue cross on her chin,
her eyebrows and eyes blaCkened, anu
the latter glued shut for three days.
Her hands were traced over with IN
dian ink in wonderful patterns, and
the insides and nails dyed orange,
There she sat like a great doll while
we stared at her. SOmeof the women
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 mOst
magnificently dressed. The cap o
pearls on her head were worth more
than 500 ,as the bridegroom told U.s.
besides other splendid gems. We ladie:
have also visited several harems, the
bashaw's among others; and we have
had tea at one-such tea! 1t IS con
sidered great luxury, and is given a:
a great compliment. To be offered 4
and to refuse is an objectionable in
,ult: 50 Of course we had to drink 1t
The sugar, six huge Jumps were pu
into the teapot, and the chief wifi
calmly stirred it with a spoon TO
about five minutes, then three times
over poured out a cup and returned
it to the teapot, and finally gave u
each a cupful Of this weak syrupy tea
The slaves handed US horrible nasty
Moorish SWEETS and cakes We haC
to pretend to eat, and some we man
aged to swallow, but glad enough were
We for the ceremony 10 be over OtE
OtCR FFTC2idc.