The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-08-18
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An Arab Wedding in 1883.
fBeIravia.l

DtsSt1fid.i
 Descriptions of Arab customs have so often been placed before the reading public iha, some apology is needed for again attempting to describe the eere- monies attending an Arab wedding. My excuse for attempting 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 grea, variety oftribes represented a: an Arab seaport, an unusually good opportunity was afforded of witnessing different tribal customs. The wedding propose to describe took place in the present year of grace 1883, 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 I9 north latitude aud 3 east longitude, and Is the chief port for the produce of the Soudan and the equatorial provinces of Egypt. The fathers of both bride and bridegroom were leading merchants in the port-the father of the bridegroom being the owner of nearly two-thirds of the island on which Souakin is built The festivities in connection with the wedding lasted for ten days. during which time open house was kept by the bride groom $ father, music, singing, and danc- ing being kept up night after nigh, until dawn announced the approach of day, Each night some different tribe gave its own peculiar songs and dances. in large shamianl which had been erected for the purpose, and all Souakin fiocked to participate in or be passive spectators of the scene. Professional singers and dan oers had been brought over the sea from Jeddah 10 assist the local talent, and the lnvervals between the dances were filled up with Arab love-songs. The favori,e musical instrument of all Arabs is the drum, or tum-,um. This consists of gouTd or large earthen bowl with ! skin stretched it. The Souakinese have also sort oi double fageolet. made of reeds, which makes a very shrll though not unpleasant sound; and ihe Hadra- maut Arabs use species of bagpipes which emit sounds productive of the most exquisite torture. The music, as rule, Is of very monotonous character. though at times something like quick march Is struck up, which IS always accompanied by the audience with clipping oi hands. Entertainments were gwen on successive nights, by the Bish- areen Arabs who inhabit the hill country between Souakn and the Nile on the southwest; by the Hadendoas who dwell south near the Abyssinian frontier; by the Hadramauts who hail from the Per sian Gulf; and by professional dancing girls from Jeddah, who gave several per formances Of the Deluka, dance very similar to the Indian nautch. The national dance ofthe Bishareen Arabs Is of military character, as becomes the members of SO wariike tribe. The dancers form a circle, standing about four paces apart % as 10 give space for the brandishing Of their spears. They then move slowly round to the beating of the tum-tums, singing the while, and now and again halting and raising their spears high above their heads, as if abou, to hurl them. Gradually the music quickens, 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 though somebody would certainly be impaled. This con- tinues till the dancers are tired out, when they retire, and their places are taken by another batch. They soon come up 10 time again. however. and abou, ,o of them will keep the dance going .nces- sanity throughout the night, The dance of the Hadendoas is somewhat similar. except that they are armed with swords. and all carry round shields made of hip popotamus hide. As they get excited Tn the dance they crouch and spring, and assume the most gro,esque attitudes. clashing their swords. and making wonderful close shaves of cutting of each others heads.