The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-02
An Arab Wedding fn 1883.
IRelgraYia.l

Descriptions OF Arab customs have so
often been placed before the reading pub
lie that some apology is needed for again
attempting TO describe the ceremonies at
tending an Arab wedding. Ny 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
20 the great variety Of tribes represented at
an Arab seaport, an unusually good OPP
portunlty was afforded Of witnessing
differen. tribal customs. The wedding |
propose to describe took place in the pre-
sent year of grace 1888. at Souakln. For
the benefit Of those whose geography was
learned some years ago, let me state that
Souakn Is town situated on the Red sea,
In l9o north latitude and so east lCngi-
tude, and is the chief port for the produce
Of the SoudaE and the equatorial provinces
Of Egypt. The fathers OF both bride and
bridegroom were leading merchants in
the port-the father Of the bridegroom
beng 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 bridegroom'S father, mu-
sic, singing, and dancing being kept up
night after night until dawn announced
the approach OF day. Each night some
different tribe gave ITS own peculiar songs
and dances in large shamiana which had
been erected for the purpose, and all Soua-
kin ilocked 70 participate in or be passive
spectators OF the scene. Professional sing
ers and dancers had been brought over the
sea from Jeddah to assist the local talent,
and the intervals between the dances were
filed up with Arab love-songs. The
fayorite musical instrument OF all
Arabs is the drum, or tum-tum.
This consists OF q gourd or a large
earthen bowl with skin stretched over
it. The Soualinese have also a sort OF
double fiageolct, made of reeds, which
makes q very shrill though not unpleasant
sound; and the Hadramaut Arabs use a
species OF bagpipes which emit sounds pro-
ductiye OF the most exquisite torture. The
music, us Il rule, is OF a very monotonous
character, though at times something like a
quick march il struck up, which is always
accompanied by the audience with n clap
ping OF hands. Entertainments were given
on successive nights by the Bshareen
Arabs, who inhabit the hill country he
tween Souakin and the Nile on the south
west: by the Hadendoas who dwell south
near the Abyssinian frontier; by the
Hatlramauts, who hail from the Persian
Gulf; and by professional dancing.g girls
from Jeddah, who gave several perform
Gnces OF the Doluka, dance very similar
10 the Indian nautch. The national dance
Of the Dishareen Arabs is OF military
character. as becomes the members OF so
warlike u tribe. The dancers form cir
Gle, standing about four PAGES apart, so as
10 give space for the brandishing OF their
spears. They then move slowly round TO
tie beating OF the tum-tums, singing the
while. aud now and again hating and rails.
ing their spears high above their heads,
as IL about to hurl them. Gradual
ly the music quiekens, and with il
the steps OF the dancers; the spears
whirl round the heads Of the dusty
warriors at an astonishing rate, aud i
looks as though somebody would certainly
be impaled. This continues till the dancers
are tired out. when they retire, and theil
places are taken by another batch. They
soon come up TO time again, however, ant
about thirty Of them Will keep the dance
going necessarily throughout the night
The dance OF the Hadendoas is somewha
similar, except that they are armed witt
swords, and all carry round shields mad
OF hippopotamus hide. As they get eX
cited In the dance they crouch and sprin:
aud assume the most grotesque attitudes
elashing their swords, and making won
derful close shayes OF cutting of eacI
others heads.