Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-26
DINING WITH A PRINCE.
NOVEL ENTERTAINING NT FOR a
PERSIAN Rt LEK.

The gorgeous fur0isn1nS OF
Bouse-DinDer for Pour, Food for Ftf-
p--trong spirits for the Guesta-Pe-
Guitar Dance of -Four Beautiful n aid
ens-The Tricks of the Buffoon-Hak
jag Night oft in the Persian Capital.
Fro1a he st. james Gazet,e.
The fret time that had the pleasure
OF being entertained by Persian Prince
was when | dined with the serrum-u-
Dowlet, the son Of the Governor OF the
Province OF Kermanshah, who was the
Kings uncle. About in the afternoon
/ arrived with a friend at the Princes
house 1t was in the summer time, and
bis nighness was sitting with his brother
in a laTze tslar or archway-a sort OF
windowless room-the open front OF
which looked upon large hsux or tank,
into and from which clear water ran con-
tiauou.ly. Ire whole talar was built 10
the Arabian or -aracenic style Of the AL
hsmbra, but The decorations were far less
chasfe and much more ford. There were
life-sized full-length portraits OF dancing
girls in all possible and impossible atti.
fuGes some were balancing knives or
g0bets. others were IL the various pos.
lures Of the Eastern dance, while one was
deUicted a. standing on her head. AL
these pictures were faithful likepesses OF
court tsvorites made by the court paint
ers. The Persians, unliKe other Mobam-
medaBs. delignt in representations of fe.
male beauty, in which their artists
excel. The recesses in the walls
were led with acknowledgements OF
very dubious taste, let in and z aZed.
There were old chandeliers OF various
col0rs hanging from the lofty arch, twenty
pairs OF carriage lamps were stuck in
staples on the walls; and from each of
demanded a tiny VVhinh "a
nixbtiagale was singing, in emulation
OF bis fellows. at the full pitch OF mis-
voice. In the centre Of the apart ment,
open 20 the air, was basin five feet in d.
ameter. OYthe alaOaster-lIke se!lOw-veined
marble Of IeZd, and in this basin is q sin.
gle large jet OF water, the thickness OF a
mans arm, played furlously. The noise
was so desiening that we had to shout our
compliments TO each other.
The fountain at length ceased to play,
10 doubt TO the great salts action of three
unfortunate gardeners, who were en-
gagged in supplying 1t by means OF a sort
Of Oriental treadmill, by which huge
buckets OF water were drawn from a
shallow well. Water-pipes hubble bub-
bIss we're brought and handed round;
and so hospifable were the Princes that
the Insisted on smoking the hubble
bubbles last. and would not be denied.
Tea. more pipes, more tea, during which
long gossip took place on politics, the
Queen. the shan, the Prince OF Wales
and our hosts horses, dogs, guns, and
various other possessions, which were
exhibited and duly admired.
Ii was now sunset. and military band,
some twenty strong and all apparently
playing different tunes, produced tOhu-
bonu truly diabolical. Then wine was
eeryed-the delicious but heady wine OF
Bamadan. Trays OF smeetmeats, each
containing a dozen varieties of beautl-
fully made bonbons and cOmfi.s all OF
snowy wbiteness, were placed on the
ground at either side of each OF The party.
The guests drank their wine from glasses;
abe hosts used bowls OF silver Of the size
and shape OF a finger glass. Spirits in
the form OF arraek-the strong coarse
epIrit OF the country-were offered 10 US
and declined. Our hosts drank 1t ike
water.
And now entered four lutis or buffoons.
They sang, they danced, and they told
short stories, 10 the immense Amusement
of our hosts. Then, amidst the rhythmic.
beating of drums and tam DOurines
the CLASH OF cymoals and the sounds Of
the cOrDef, flute. harp, viOl, sackbut and
llkirds Of music, came four pretty gypsy
girls, half dressed ia the gaYest colOrs
and covered with glittering jewery. They
sailed INTO The room, eacn decorated with
her professional smile. Truth to say,
LLtsE KITE were MUCH pain Out III
Persia every lady paints on great Occa-
sions. The eyebrows and eye
lashes had been much beautifed. A tiny
ZOuave jacket OF bright satin, embroId-
cred with gold and seed pearls, was all
the clothing worn above the waist. rae
skirts reached 10 the knee and were much
boude, like those OF our opera dancers.
Two Of tae girls wore their jetty uresses
in innumerable plaits; from the end OF
each plat hung a little bell or a silver
coin. The otDer TWO allowed their mag
niicent cheyelures Of wavy black hair 10
hang in a cascade which fell Tar below
their waists. AS to their eyes. IL Is
enough TO say that they were Persian
eyes. The age OF the dancers varied from
13 to II years.
The dance mad no variety. The four
young ladies spun round in a row, the
hands high in air, while the fingers were
snapped with a sound like the playing OF
castanets. Now and then the dancers
would make what children call "a
cheese" Then, while their feet remained
motionless, their bodies would be swayed
and cOntorted more and more rapidly as
the music cuickened. Then tue head
was bent back till IL almost touched the
ground, the fingers being snapped in time
TO the music, while one girl FLASHED pair
OF cymbals an inch In diameter between
the thumb and iorefnger of each hand.
q
Persian love song with a wild refrain, in
which all joined. The scene WAS SUI
fciently gay one, all taking place under
blaze of light from the chandeliers aud
carriage lamps.
The girls now danced singly. and a
variety OF posturlns was gone through.
They balanced full glasses and lighted
candles; they stood on their heads; they
walked on their hands in procession,
emulating the more difficult attitudes
dep cted on the walls. Then they danced
rather graceful scarf-dance. Then
their attentions became personal. They
would be we'll rewarded by our hosts, but
we gave them few COINS, and they re-
tired, smiling and kissing their hands.
After few minutes rest the musicians
suddenly recommended their performance
with fresh vigor. The tune-for it was
something distinctly resembling an air
grew faster ard more furious. And now
entered strange parsonage. He was
about feet high, with huge, fair lace
like full moou, small body, short legs,
huge bare feet, and an enormous white
turban. The face was one Of intense and
dismal stupidity. The mannikin danced
in grOteeque manner, his arms
extended At a right angle to