, 1880-09-06
Egyptian Wedding Fetes.

We we're invited "for sunset and
accordingly made our appearance at the
brides palace in Ismaila as the thou
sand colored lamps with which the
streets in the nelghborhoOd OF the
house had been decorated were being
lighted. The effect was striking and
elegant, for the delicate carved win
dcws and portals, and the plentiful
show Of green and red flags. trimmed
with gold tinsel, stood out in hun
dred different shades of color. Guests
were arriving fast. some III rumbllng
harem Carriages, some on mule back,
some on foot, and many brought II
batch of female slaves as escort. to give
themselves dignity withal. Needless
to say that eunuchs abounded; indeed,
We we're all women and eunuchs, bat
not man to be seen. A military band
was stationed before the gates and
awoke the echoes with barbaric strain,
which appeared to have no little effect
on the carriage horses and mules, for
these prsnced and reared in terrible
fashion. The noisy, highly.scented,
and mauy-colored throng pressed into
broad staircase leading to the first floor.
My companion and myself being the
only two Frangis (Europeapsl
present excited no little remark am ong
the guests, who, by the by, had by this
time all thrown back their wells. Kind
" looks, however, met US on all sides,
and furtive ,glaHces, in which the innate
politeness Of the Oriental struggled
with feminine curiosity. What a vari-
ETY. Of feature was here to be seen! The
delicate, thin-nosed. pale Circassian,
the chocolate colored Egyptian. with
the same distinctive type we find por-
trayed ON tombs of forty centuries
past, the coal-black Nubian with gigan-
tic lips and receding forehead. At such
a fantasia as this all are equal, the
naughty "gem of the harem" being
treated Just the same as the lowliest oi
aarkies." neither better nor worse. sc
that the company lost no time IL dis
cussing precedeAts before sitting dowr
to ihe dozens OF little tables which stood
in readiness for the marriage guests
These tables were carved brass trays, &
ward or 30 across, and supported about
eighteen inches from the ground OIL
short legs. Six or eight women squat
ted Unfortunately round each table
the feast consistingiof a hundred "mess-
es." The company numbered abou
sight hundred "daughters of Eve.
Pllaus of mutton and rice, with more
than dash of garlic, sweet cakes ol
maize-four and crushed dates, salt fish
and dried fruit, formed the pieces de re
s:stance, aEd these were all eaten wlti
the fingers. We were supplied witt
knife and fork as Europeans, but scorn
ed to make use of such absurd aids tt
eating, and fshed for the tidbits ik'
our messmates. The eunuchs were in
eessant in the attentions, fitting abou
with finger glasses and food. and grin
ming good naturedly the while. Th'
best thing I tasted was sweetmea
composed of camel's milk, honey, rice
burnt almonds and plums, while thirs
was slaked by rather nasty sherbet ant
orange water. Champagne wonld hav
been preferable.
The heat and odor soon became op
pressive, and it was with feeling G
relief we welcomed slave come to fetc
us to the private room of the bride
mark Oh eAcep1oual lhVoI. Vo AouH
the heroine of the day ready dresse
and about to proceed to the "thron
roem the artment. that is, wher
she shows herself in public. She rea
3y was q pretty girl, rather tall, not to
fat, (the usual defect of harem women
most delightful figure. abundant DARK
brown hair, with touch of red in
IA most unusual thing in Egypt,) an
very small ars-aitogether a yer
"love- awakening daughter, as an Ara
would say. the color of the eyes
could not see. for it is in Egypt" goo
form" for the bride to appear ovel
whelmed with confusion and shyness 6
her terrible (D position, The eye
must on no account be lifted from tn
ground; she is led about by her nurs
"a functionary, by the by, who plays
prominent part at the wedding, AN
one whom it is the .6nnce's interest
"tip" LIBERAL two other attend
ants, while couple of slaves fan he
Aonfinuallv. tO oOol the Burning blust