Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-07-10
A WEDDING IN THE DESERT.
The Brides Lack of Enthusiasm-Horse- manship-At the Feast.

The Brtde'S LACK OI EnGnuSlASm-hOFse' : manship-At the Feast. : I had the good fortune to see grand Arab wedding. The caid had planned the mar 1; riage of his daughter to a sheik-frankly one of the ugliest men had ever seen-who wal i already the possessor of four wives. From ! what whispers could be heard from the mys- ! terious recesses of the harem, the bride was a lovely girl of 14, her repugnance having de- l layed the marriage some ten days After the ceremony, while the bride was being con- veyed to the bridegroom's home in a sort of ehowdah of brocaded silk, her cries and lamen- i tations could plainly be heard above the din of the pistols and matchlocks and the voices of some thirty maidens, who, surrounding the camel that bore her, gave utterance to strange noise made by tapping tho mouth with the open hand while crying out, the effect produced being somewhat like the cry , of an Indian.
 These maidens had on this occasion wash; maks made mostly of light green gauge stud. ded with golden stars, which partly concealed the faces of some of the loveliest women and girls. Their eyes, indeed, equaled those of the gazelle, but seemed to have a mournful vacancy and to be anything but windows of the soul. Arab etiquette prevented mo from advancing too near. What with the en- broidery, the gold and the colored garments,
 
 striking effect. On went the procession to make tour on the desert, surrounded by the frenzied band of relatives, while the mar. eriage feast-kids and sheep roasted whole was being cooked. On their return prepara- tions were being made for what had so much longed to see, the celebrated "fantase arabe."
 Imagine about forty Arabs, superbly mounted and armed, casting aside tho bur- moose of every day to appear in their holiday jackets of every hue and texture maginablei horse housings of velvet and gold, with tas- sells and embroidery everywhere; the heels of their long red leather boots decked with the Arab spur, five inches long, which is really only an ornament; flashing arms, O long gun, two long carved daggers, q brace of pistols attached to a cord round the neck, so that they can be flung over the shoulder after be- ing discharged, long sword, damaskened with gold, fastened to the saddle bow-in such guise they career headlong at great burst of speed, the rein held loosely by the little finger, using gun, pistols and sword in turn, ill mimic warfare. Cries of defiance arise from the men, and loud appreciation from the women, as some skillful cavalier performs some more daring feat than any of his comrades, till finally, amid whirlwind 1 !: of dust, horses and men, half mad with ex
 
 lence of their exertions.
 At the feast was placed beside the caid, who looked approvingly at mo as I squatted down cross legged and followed the others in tearing, strip by strip; the meat from the steaming animal. As a bonne bouche my host crammed his hand down the animals 1 throat, tearing out the tongue and sharing 1t with me. After sundry dishes, highly spiced with pimento and pepper, there came the CONSCIOUS, the great national dish that is eaten every day. It is taken by the hand 1 and thrown into the mouth. We finished 1 with dates, sweetmeats and coffee of deli ! cious flavor. Their manner of preparing the beverage is, after roasting the berry and beating it into powder, to put it into a tin pot with water enough for one; after being made to boil, it is served, grounds and all, but the aroma is perfection.-E. P. Sangui- netti in Harpers Magazine.