Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-03-01
An Arab wedding Rail-.


The bride, who, closely veiled, sat within,
surrounded by women. On the outside be-
tween four and five hundred people were
collected, and n clear space was kept in The
middle for the dancers by two men with
drawn swords, who vigorously applied,
right and left, the Hat of the blade To all
who pressed too forward. On one side of
the ring squatted the band, consisting of
two men with instruments like fageolcts
and drummer who occasionally accom-
panied the music with his voice.
In the centre was middle-aged woman,
dressed in the usual dark blue cotton gar
ments, but decked with all her ornaments
EARRINGS, bracelets and necklace-to
which sundry charms and amulets, teeth
of wild beasts, verses of the Koran sewn up
in little bags, and various odds and ends,
considered as projections from the evil eye,
were suspended; a large circular brooch of
silver or white metal---the same in form as
those used by Scotch lIghlanders-c
fined the loose folds across her bosom, and
a small looking-glass dangled conveniently
at the end OF a string of sufficient length TO
allow of her admring her charms in de-
tail. Her face was uncovered, and her
features were harsh and dsaGrceable, ex-
cept the eyes, which were large and ex-
pressive, with that peculiar lustrous APP
pearauce given by the use Of mineral
paint. Her feet were hardly visible from
the length of her dress, and her finger
nails, together with the palms Of her hands,
were stained with henua. As soon as we
had taken our stands in the front row, the
music, which had ceased for n few minutes,
struck up, aud the lady in the midst com
menced her performance.
Inclining her head languishingly from
l., 4 . a. H..
raising each foot alternately from the
ground with a jerking action, as If she had
been standing on hot floor, at the Same
time twisting about her body With a slow
movement OF the hands and arms. Several
others succeeded her, aud danced in the
same style, withan equal want Of grace.
y powerful inducement to exert themselves
was not wanting, for one of them more
than once received some tOlerably severe
blows, both from stick and the Hat of ii
sword; what the reason was | do not
know, but suppose that either she WAS
lazy or danced badly.
While the dancing was going on, the
spectators were not idle; armed With guns,
pistols, and blunderbusses with enormous
bell mouths, an irregular tire WAS kept up.
Advancing a step or two into the circle, 80
as to show of before the whole party, an
! Arab would present his weapon at n trieud
! opposite, throwing himself into n graceful
attitude; then suddenly dropping the muZ-
zle at the instant OF pulling the trigger, the
charge struck the ground close to the feet
| of the person aimed at. After each report
| the women Get up long-continued, shrill
cry of "lu-lu, lulu, - and the musicians re-
! doubled their efforts. The advance OF one
man is usually the signal for others to come
I'd of no NM al tp
surpass their friends or neiehbors in dex-
| teriUy and grace. Ten or II dozen men be-
! ing crowded in small space. sometimes
! not more than six feet wide, brandishing
! their arms and excited by the mimic COM
! bat, firing often at random, it is not TO be
wondered at if accidents happen occasion
! ally to the actors or to the bystandeGs.
| How TO GET RID OF RATs.-Captain
). kept hotel in the village of NJ, which
! the hotel, not the yillage-was noted for
! its poor accommodations and meagre fare.
! One day traveller came along, called for
supper, partook without complaint of the
slender repast set before him, paid the half
dollar which the captain demanded, and
went on his way rejoicing. perhaps. So
! far nothing remarkable. But in about a
! week the traveller did what few ever did
| during the captains reign-he came sec
ond time and put up for the night. In the
evening, as is usual in small towns, a
| crowd gathered around the bar-room fire
| cOnversing upon various subjects, when
| the captain began to complain of rats.
! They were the pest of his life, he said, and
! he would give anybody five dollars yes,
ten-if they would tell him q sure way OF
| getting rid of them.
a dozen remedies were Immediately sug-
gcsted by the loungers. One prescribed
| poison; another suggested traps; another
| ra terriers; while the fourth thought the
! best way was To SINCE one and let him go
| to scare the rest into vscating the premises.
! But, no; the captain had tried all these
methods in vain. The rats scorncd poison,
avoided the traps aud whipped the terrier.
As for the singeing process, the captain re-
minded the promulgatoa OF that brilliant
| idea that old Mrs. Glass recipe for dressing
1 hare commenced with the important
/ item, first catch your hare; and in this
case it seemed necessary tu legiu much in
! the same way. The traveller before men
! toned spoke at this iuucture.
If you will give me ten dollars, sir,
said he To the landlord, I'll tell you how
| TO get rid of your rats without fail.
| IN do it, sir! Ill do it, said the cap
| tain, joyfully.
After handing the traveller the money,
who insisted on receiving it before imptrt-
| ing the secret, he continued:
Now, then, sir, what is your remedy for
these pests2'
We'll, sir, perhaps you remember that
came along here and took supper with you
| about a week ago:'
Yes, sir
And you charged me fifty cents?'
Yes, sir; that is my regular price. But
what has this ID do with rats?'
I'm coming to it. paid you for my
supper, didn't ~
Yes
well, then, all I've got to say is, just
set such a miserably poor supper before
your rats as you set before me, and charge
! them fifty cents Il head for it, and, my
word for it, they wont stand it; they'll
leave the house in disgust, and never come
back
/ A SAILORS DESCRIPTION OF a RIDE Or
HoRsEBACK.-"Ih hired a very tine horse
and, mounted him brayely, laid his head
east by south as near as might be accord
ing TO our binuacle. But. though the wind
.l I l,,t l,a nd tila nd al in li