The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-12-02
FOR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
sUMMER-DAYs IN THE EAST.

A"~~ wv "PP'V"OhihS uO"n WV W. w
If one may be allowed to speak of what OIL
knows nothing, would say they were sounc
from Pandemonium. have heard Irish &
wake,-College Calathumps, love.sic
serenaders, but the present combination {
discords was none of these. There was
confused hum and buzz of voices-some high
some low; the Arummel of an over-tau
drum, there were horns pitched at all keys
jingling as of bells, explosive clapping o
handS,-but how many other elements o
how united, was mystery. A glare of ligh
| filed the little rpurt as | stepped across it t
-. 5e..ezlts., ~ vht ga aud looked dow
into the narrow street. A glance explaine'
all: it was an Arabs wedding, and they wer
escorting the bridegroom home according t.
Eastern custom. l remembered the graphic
parable of the ten virgins who went out tt
meet the bridegroom, and wondered not tha
the company wakened when there was {
''great CRY" at midnight 1t is of quality
to waken that historic band known as tht
Seven Sleepers.
But the scene framed in the crowded alley
beneath was indescribable as the wedding
music. 1t was motley company of both
sexes and all ages. The effect of their fan.
tastic costumes was heightened by the weird
glare of lamps and torches whose fickeriDg
blaze marked their line strung out far down
the way. At the head youth carried a
small kettledrum swung around his neck,
and resting on his back. A turbaned gray
beard followed, solemnly pounding the drum
head with two sticks. This master of cere-
monies was of venerable appearance, and
could not have proceeded more seriously, had
he been tapping the dead march around
Mohamed's coffin. He alone seemed profess
sionsl. The other musicians were scattered
promiscuously and piped away-each inde-
pendent of the rest. The party advanced
slowly; but the rotary and vertical motion of
their bodies was rapid as only an Arab can
endure. The men were eaping and twisting
their supple joints like dancing Dervishes.
At every gesture each brought his two palms
together with fearful violence;-the reports
were stunning. How earnest the fellows
we're el-how bright their black eyes, how
animated their looks, as if they we're going
to clap themselves into Paradise!
All were sDging-to use the word loosely.
The melody was Wild monotone which they
chanted with all the lung-power and vehe
mence of which Arabs are capable, but in
perfect accord. The drum, the leaping dance,
the stropheS went together. 1t was the ma
tional air; the melody simple, the measure
short, ,-Dactyle, think; the words few, SO !;
"I'l la la, la ii Ia" (God is God, for He is
God.) Stanza, chorus, refrain were all alike,
nothing else but "I'l la la, la il la" repeated
with impetuous utterance and untiring energy.
My eyes and ears we're bewidered by this
strange medley of color and sound, the jum-
BILE of major and minor keys, the grotesque
coDtortions of their swaying forms, the dark
faces and flashing eyes, the futter of white
and crimson scarfs, the glitter of gaudy
trinkets on arms and necks; but throug h it
all ran the regular beat of the monotone
"Tl la la, la il la" The springing shadows
shot up and down the gloomy walls, and
broke themselves on the grated windows /;
lamps and torches fickered more ftfully as
the procession turned into Christian Alley,
the last figure leapt around the corner, and
all was dark again beneath my easement.
This morning questioned our Arab boy
about the wedding. He says the bride is
fourteen, and cost one thousand Megidi.
Girls are boug hit for wives sometimes at twelve
years of age. Arabs ere generally good
husbands, and it may be because their wives
cost them more than tender declarations and
fair promises. A wife is not to be had here
except by purchase. No matter how poor
the parties to the transaction, some price
must be paid. The parents of the woman,
on the other hand, must provide their con-
tracted daughter with a becoming dowry,
though the dowry should be only goat. hair
cloak and brass pot. Often the purchase
money is handed over to the daughter as
marriage-po portion, and thus woman realizes
her own worth in very practical way. The
price of wife varies according to her social
rank and the wealth of her parents. l give
wide margin in saying from fifty to five
hundred dollars. Of course, the personal
qualities of the woman have their weight in
the nubial scale. Mohamedans are not bet.
ter than Christians in determining their choice
oftener with reference to meretricious charms
beauty of face or form, than intelligence
or worth of character. A natural result oi
making wives an article of traffic is, not un.
frequently, great misery to them and unhap.
piness in their families. Amongst all tribes
and kindred of men the human heart will
assert itself Sometimes a girl grows uI
with a youthful love in her soul. Her affec'
tions cling to a playmate of her childhood
who, as man, is not rich enough to buy
her. A comely person may cause her to be
sought after, and she is handed over, in spite
of her entreaties, to the highest bidder. Tc
tear the vine loose from the friendly trunk
which it has clasped by an impulse of its