Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-25
An arab wzpSma IN 1885

DESCRIPTIONS Of Arab customs have so
often been placed before the reading public
that some apology is needed for again at
terD.iuc to describe the ceremonies attend
irr an Arab wedding, Sly excuse Tor at
tempting what has been so often Gene
before. must be that Wedding on grand
scale Is an exceedingly rare occurrence
among the Arabs Of the SoudaH, and,
owing to the great variety Of tribes repre-
scented at an Arab seaport, an unusually
good opportunity was offered OF witnessing
i-fferent tribal customs. The wedding
propose 70 describe took place IN the ples-
.at vesr Of grace, 1883 at S3uakiu, For
the benef. Of those whose geography ~as
learned some years sgo, lat me state enat
Scuakif s d town situated on the ited sea,
iu l9 noE51 latitude and ~ east iong5'
tude, and is the ohi5i port for the produce
Of the Soudsn apd the equatorial psoY-
incss C. Egypt. The fathers OF s9sh
bride and bridegroom were leading
Merchants IN The port-the father OF sac
bridegroom being the owner OF nearly tUo-
thirds Of TIE Island On which Sonakln 10
hailt. Tee festivities in connection With
she wedding lated for ten days, during
irhich time open hOu7e was kept by the
hridegroom'a father, music singing and
dancing being kept up night after night
antil dawn announced the approach Of Gay.
Zach night some different tribe gave Its
own peculiar songs and dances in large
shauisna which lad been erected for she
purpose, and al Soaskm fdcEed TO par
ticipate ir or be passive spectators CT she
scene. Professional sIrgers and ucs;s
had been brought over the sea from dd-h
to assist the ioesl talent 2ut zoe l9esy-
walls between the dances were hLled NJ w q
Arab love songs. The favorits musical N
strument OF all Arabs Il ths drum, or sum
tum. Tins consists OF gourd or large
earthen HoWi with skin stretched over L.
The Souakinsse have also 3 sort OF double
aage0let, made Of reeds, which makes
very shriIl though not unpleas-
sat sound aGd the Ha5ramsut
Arabs use specie Of bagpipes
vhich emit sounds productive OF the most
exquisite torture. TIE music, as a rule, IS
of 4 very. mon0tonous character, though ~
times something Ike quick maroh IS
struck uD. &hicb rs always accompanied
g,v the Sudiencs vito Ciapping Of hands.
Entertainments were given on successive
uirhts by tue B!sha.Ceu Arabs who lnhsbIt
shs hill country between Sauai,in aud the
Vile on the sorthwsst; By the Hadeudoas
rEa dwell sonlh uesr the AhyssIniaA fIon-
ser: by the HadEamsuts who bsil from
she Persian Gulf; and by professional
dancing girls from Jeddsb, who gave nev'
aral performances Of the Deiuka, dance
verv similar to the Indian nautch. The
national dance Of the Bishareen Arabs Is OF
2 military character, as becomes the men,
bers Of so warlike tribe, The dancers
form a circle, standing about four PAGES
apart. SO rs to give space for the brandish-
ing Of their spears, They then move slowly
roaud TO the beating OF the tum 5ums,
singing the while, and now and again halt
ing and raising their spears high above
shsir heads. as Il about TO hurl them.
Gradually the music quiokens, and with it
the steps Of the dancers; the spears whirl
round she beads Of the dusky warriors At
an astonishing rate, and it looks as though
somebody would certainly be impaled.
This continues till the dancers are tired
out Thsn they retire ard their places are
taken by another batch. They soon come
up to time again, however and about 80
OF them Will keep the dance gong Inces-
sanity thrcughout the night. The dance
oE the Hadendoas IS some what similar. ex-
seps that they are arIaed with avords, and
" caery round shields made Of hppoposa-
glus hide. As they get excited n the
S,nes they crouch and spring, and assume
49, rnost erosesaae attitudes, csssnlns