Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-08
GaIts arr6 Sketrbes.
An Arab Wedding in 1888.

Descriptions Of Arab customs have 50
often been placed before the reading pub
lie that some apology is needed for again
attempting to describe the ceremonies OF
an Arab wedding. My excuse for attempt
ing what has been so often done before
must be that wedding on grand scale
is an exceedingly rare occurrence among
the Arabs Of the Soudan, and, owing to
the great variety of tribes represented at
an Arab seaport. an unusually good OPP
portunity was afforded of Witnessing diff
ferent tribal customs. The wedding |
propose to describe took place in the
present year of grace 1888, at Souakin.
For the benefit of those whose geography
was learned some years ago. let ME state
that Souakin is town situated on the Red
Sea, in 10 deg. north latitude and 81 deg.
east longitude, and is the chief port for
the produce of the Soudan and the equa-
torial provinces of Egypt. The fathers
of both bride and bridegroom were lead
ing merchants in the port-the father of
the bride groom being the owner of near
ly two-thirds Of the island on which
Souakin is built. The festivities in con-
nection wiih4he wedding lasted for ten
days, during which time epen house was
kept by the bridegroom's father. music.
singing, and dancing being kept up night
after night until dawn announced the ap-
proach of day. Each night some differ
ent tribe gave its own peculiar songs and
dances. in large shamiana which had
been erected tor the purpose. and all
Souakin flocked to participate in or be
passive spectators Of the scene. PROBES
SIGNAL singers aud dancers had been
brought over the sea from Jeddah to as list
the local talent, and the intervals between
the dances were filled up with Arab love
songs. The favorte musical Instrument
of all Arabs is the drum, or tum-tum.
This consists of gourd or large earth
en bowl wit Il skin stretched over it.
The Souakinese have also sort of double
flageolet, made OF reeds, which makes
a very shrill though not I'M
pleasant sound and the Hadramant Arabs
use species Of bagpipes which emit
sounds productive of the most exquisite
torture. The music as rule is of a very
m0not0nous character. though at times
something like quick march is struck
up. which is always accompanied by the
audience with clapping of hands. En-
tertainments were given on successive
UlDUlS ny int ANUS WIN
it the hill country between Souakin and
the Nile on the southwest; by the lladen-
doas who dwell south near the AbyssiH-
ian frontier; by the Hadramante who hail
from the Persian Gulf; and by profession
al dancing girls from Jeddah, who gave
several performances of the Deluka, Il
dance very similar to the Indian hautch.
The national dance of the Bishareen
Arabs of military character, As becomes
the members OF so warlike IA tribe. The
dancers form Il circle, standing about
four PAGES apart, so rs to give space for
the brandiShing of their spears. They
then move slowly round to the beating of
the tum-tums, and singing the while. and
now and again hating and raising their
spears high above their heads, as if about
to hurl them. Gradually the music quick
ems, and with it the steps of the dancers !:
the spears whirl round the heads of the
dusky warriors at an astonishing rate, and
it looks as through someone would GER
tainly be impalled. This continues till
the dancers are tired out, when they re-
tire, and their places are taken by anoth
err batch. They soon come up to the time
again, however. and about thirty of them
will keep the dance going necessarily
throughout the night. The dance of the
Handendoas is somewhat similar, except
that thew are armed with sworda and all
carry round shield made of hidpopotamus
hides. As they get excited in the dance,
they crouch and spring, and assume the
most grotesque attitudes, clashing their
swords, and making wonderful close
shaves of cutting off each others heads.
= From the BulgrarM