The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-23
THE DANCING GIRLS OF EGYPT.
A Lively, QuiYering Description by
Charles G. Leland.

The great desire of gentlemen who
come to Egypt is the dancing girl. If
it were put to the vote, most of them
would prefer her to the Pyramids, if not
to the Nile. Even the moral and pious,
the Oldest and the coldest, cannot forego
this bit of temptation; SO they get
themselves earnestly assured by their
dragoman, or, better still, by some gen.
tleman of acknowledged high character
if possible from Boston-that there
is really nothing in her performance
which would call blush, etc. 1t is
better still if Mr.. High Character grave
ly assures them that, in fact, it found it
very stupid, and the Ghawazi very ugly.
All of this is most thankfully accepted,
for, admitting it in full, the dances are
still improper-which has charm be-
yond beauty and grace; and however
good a man may be, he is seldom willing
to admit he did not see it, and knows
nothing directly about it. Hardened
worldings who frequent the ballet are
not so deeply disgusted with the Cha
zien, nor do they find her altogether
stupid or so invariably ugly.
Most of the dancing of the Ghawazi
is Indifferent enough. 1t is, however,
remarkable that what skill they do ex-
hibit, even under these circumstances, is
seldom appreciated: for the dullest of
them generally affect muscular feats,
such as one never sees in the West, yet
which are not directly perceptible. They
all seem to have the power of moving
any part of the body freely, just as GER
tain persons can move their ears; and it
is wonderful how they will continue to
agitate every muscle in the most violent
and rapid manner for hours, quivering
from head to foot as if electrified, with
out being in the least fatigued, and,
what is incredible, without perspiring.
1 only once saw Ghawazi dancing, which
was, in the opinion of native gentlemen,
and of Europeans who had been many
years in the country, and had full op-
portunities of Judging, of a really super
ior and artistic character. This was a
Gergeh. There were two girls, one
quite pretty and young, the other less
attractive but rather the better dancer.
The dancing girls were dressed in long
skirts, one over the other, reaching to the
ankle, the upper garment being of
whitish yellow or reddish color. The
body and arms were clad in a very dark,
tight-fitting chemise, with white stripes,
half an inch broad, about two inches
apart, looking tiger-like. Over this
was worn very tight jacket of red
satin, very short in the waist, with tight
short sleeves. On their heads were cur
iously-shaped caps, and their hair hung
in long braids. Around the waist was
silver girdle with high bosses, and de-
dendent from it in loops was very cur
ious and massive ornament or chain,
made of eight or ten triangular silver
boxes, and many large silver beads. A
profusion of gold necklaces, coins, and
other ornaments hung from the neck
and head. Other Ghawazi at different
towns wore dresses very different from
this. At one place their garments were
of black from head to foot, with silver
strips, while the braids of hair were
very prettily made, terminating in many
silver balls. At Stout saw one whose
only ornaments were an incredible guam
tity of gold coins of all sizes.
The first dancing of all -Ghawazi is
simply moving about to the music, and
undulating the body. Then waves OF
motion are made to run from head to
foot, and over these waves pass, with in
credible rapidity, the ripples and thrills
as you have seen great billow in a
breeze look like smaller sea ribbed
with thousand wavelets. All is done
in perfect time with the music. Then
the air changes and there is variation
in the dance. The girl stone-she be
comes immovable below the body, anG
moves only the body above, rocking anC
swaying, expressive of suffering from
intense passion. At times, and in tim'
| with the ususlc, convulsion thrills th'
= waist, arms and head, and sometime
' the muscles. She becomes quiet, but i
' you observe closely the movement, pas
I sion and exertion are not less intense
r and the breasts continues to move as i
s vitality remained in them alone; per
: haps only one throbs violently.
e There is another change, and tn
dancer sinks slowly almost to her knees
e as if overpowered with passion, Will
: the arms sweep in singular but graceful
: gestures. Perhaps she waves slowly il
d a walking dance, moving the lower par
= Of her body forward more and NOR
: with a vigorous quivering, and once il
u ten seconds startling with a convulsio
a which gradually becomes more frequen
until she apparently yields and expires
It The girl at Girgeh performed a yer
pretty dance, which was quite poem
d Placing cup, symbolic of temptation
on the ground, she danced around it
e a style which was perfectly Spanish
'e turning the body and sinking low wit
We great grace and exquisite art. The Gu
/, appeared to exercise terrible fascins
h tion, and she seemed afraid to drain i
The fear was perfectly acted. Five time
I without aid from her arms, she almo
lay on the ground with her thirsty lii
| ir7af do1Iusro he adOo ond fhe
E. arising swept in dance, and thrilled an
shivered, and turned, and sank agai
ID The sixth time she had completed Il
of circle, and no longer able to resist, sh
Mt approached the cup with throbs ar
ae pauses, and then without using her han
lifted it from the ground with her Ii
alone, draining it as she rose, and Il
tragedy of temptation being over, me